Did not maintain assigned heading.

Attributes
ACN	96005
Time
Date	198810
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 7350 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	96605
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time type : 50
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

PF had minimal experience in this aircraft type (less than 50 hours) and had not flown aircraft in 6 months. After departure from sea level airport, departure control restr us to 2000' (we had originally been cleared to maintain 10000'). Level at 2000' we were in and out of the clouds. I was watching for traffic, opp direction at 3000' and also monitoring our airspeed and altitude as PF was having difficulty controling aircraft. I failed to notice that PF had allowed our heading to drift 20 degrees to the right of the heading assigned in the SID. I pointed this out to the PF along with suggestions on how to stabilize aircraft altitude and speed. We returned to normal departure profile. Contributing factors: 1) based on original clearance, both pilots were programmed for a climb to 10000'. If we had been aware of the 2000' restriction prior to takeoff, I would have suggested a lower climb thrust setting after flap retraction to facilitate speed and altitude control. 2) PF did not have recent experience in the aircraft (although he was legal as sic). It may be asking too much of someone who hasn't flown in a specific type ot make their first departure into IMC conditions and then throw a low altitude restriction at them.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DID NOT MAINTAIN ASSIGNED HEADING.

Narrative: PF HAD MINIMAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS ACFT TYPE (LESS THAN 50 HRS) AND HAD NOT FLOWN ACFT IN 6 MONTHS. AFTER DEP FROM SEA LEVEL ARPT, DEP CTL RESTR US TO 2000' (WE HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN CLRED TO MAINTAIN 10000'). LEVEL AT 2000' WE WERE IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS. I WAS WATCHING FOR TFC, OPP DIRECTION AT 3000' AND ALSO MONITORING OUR AIRSPD AND ALT AS PF WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY CTLING ACFT. I FAILED TO NOTICE THAT PF HAD ALLOWED OUR HDG TO DRIFT 20 DEGS TO THE RIGHT OF THE HDG ASSIGNED IN THE SID. I POINTED THIS OUT TO THE PF ALONG WITH SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO STABILIZE ACFT ALT AND SPD. WE RETURNED TO NORMAL DEP PROFILE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) BASED ON ORIGINAL CLRNC, BOTH PLTS WERE PROGRAMMED FOR A CLB TO 10000'. IF WE HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE 2000' RESTRICTION PRIOR TO TKOF, I WOULD HAVE SUGGESTED A LOWER CLB THRUST SETTING AFTER FLAP RETRACTION TO FACILITATE SPD AND ALT CONTROL. 2) PF DID NOT HAVE RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE ACFT (ALTHOUGH HE WAS LEGAL AS SIC). IT MAY BE ASKING TOO MUCH OF SOMEONE WHO HASN'T FLOWN IN A SPECIFIC TYPE OT MAKE THEIR FIRST DEP INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND THEN THROW A LOW ALT RESTRICTION AT THEM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.