An emb-140 on autopilot with FMS guidance turned the wrong direction after a 'direct to' FMS selecti...

Attributes
ACN	842876
Time
Date	200907
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 140 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Autoflight System
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Total 6540
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Experience	Flight Crew Total 11500
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

While at cruise flight at FL280 and 80NE of a VOR; we were given a clearance to proceed direct to the VOR. Both of us selected dto (direct to) on the FMS and verified the new course on the pfd and mfd as a turn to the right. Initially the flight director/autopilot commanded an incorrect turn to the left and did not correct back to the right. After a short period of time; the pilot flying (captain) overrode the automation and selected 'heading' mode in an attempt to get the aircraft pointed in the correct direction. After we were approaching a direct course to the VOR; the center controller issued us a new clearance direct to another VOR and then amended that to a clearance direct to the original one again. The event occurred because the autopilot/flight director commanded a turn in the opposite direction of the actual course displayed on the pfd and mfd. To prevent this from occurring again; I think that it would be a safe practice to turn to the new course in heading mode before selecting 'navigation'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An EMB-140 on autopilot with FMS guidance turned the wrong direction after a 'direct to' FMS selection was made following a change in next fix clearance.

Narrative: While at cruise flight at FL280 and 80NE of a VOR; we were given a clearance to proceed direct to the VOR. Both of us selected DTO (Direct to) on the FMS and verified the new course on the PFD and MFD as a turn to the right. Initially the flight director/autopilot commanded an incorrect turn to the left and did not correct back to the right. After a short period of time; the pilot flying (Captain) overrode the automation and selected 'HDG' mode in an attempt to get the aircraft pointed in the correct direction. After we were approaching a direct course to the VOR; the Center controller issued us a new clearance direct to another VOR and then amended that to a clearance direct to the original one again. The event occurred because the autopilot/flight director commanded a turn in the opposite direction of the actual course displayed on the PFD and MFD. To prevent this from occurring again; I think that it would be a safe practice to turn to the new course in heading mode before selecting 'NAV'.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

An emb-140 on autopilot with FMS guidance turned the wrong direction after a 'direct to' FMS selection was made following a change in next fix clearance.