Narrative:

We checked over ebber and ATC advised radar check over ebber and cleared en route frequencys (hnl radio), radar services terminated. Aircraft was on autoplt and omega #2 was providing inputs to autoplt. I failed to notice omega switch was in manual position and so aircraft did not turn to new course outbnd. Both pilots were busy filling out aireps and noting fuel readings and compass checks. Also doing required navigation system checks. In approximately 2-3 mins received SELCAL from hnl radio and told we were 10 mi off course and to reattempt contact with hnl center. Called hnl center and they advised we were approximately 17 mi right of course. A quick check revealed the problem and corrective action taken. Center advised we were approximately 21 mi off course and they lost radar contact. We corrected to course and checked right over erwen. No further problems. Flight engineer's instruments was indicating properly, but flight engineer was busy with an air-conditioning problem. Captain had selected radio on his HSI to xchk VOR position over ebber and so it was of no use in alerting us to off course. My HSI was naturally centered showing continuation of last course. Possible additional factor is backside of clock operation. I had been up for 17 hours at time with only a short nap before departure. Also, I feel omega should have an indicator light to show when selector is in manual.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB DEVIATED FROM CLRNC ROUTE WHEN FLT CREW FAILED TO PROPERLY PROGRAM OMEGA NAVIGATION MODE.

Narrative: WE CHKED OVER EBBER AND ATC ADVISED RADAR CHK OVER EBBER AND CLRED ENRTE FREQS (HNL RADIO), RADAR SVCS TERMINATED. ACFT WAS ON AUTOPLT AND OMEGA #2 WAS PROVIDING INPUTS TO AUTOPLT. I FAILED TO NOTICE OMEGA SWITCH WAS IN MANUAL POS AND SO ACFT DID NOT TURN TO NEW COURSE OUTBND. BOTH PLTS WERE BUSY FILLING OUT AIREPS AND NOTING FUEL READINGS AND COMPASS CHKS. ALSO DOING REQUIRED NAV SYS CHKS. IN APPROX 2-3 MINS RECEIVED SELCAL FROM HNL RADIO AND TOLD WE WERE 10 MI OFF COURSE AND TO REATTEMPT CONTACT WITH HNL CTR. CALLED HNL CTR AND THEY ADVISED WE WERE APPROX 17 MI RIGHT OF COURSE. A QUICK CHK REVEALED THE PROB AND CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. CTR ADVISED WE WERE APPROX 21 MI OFF COURSE AND THEY LOST RADAR CONTACT. WE CORRECTED TO COURSE AND CHKED RIGHT OVER ERWEN. NO FURTHER PROBS. FE'S INSTRUMENTS WAS INDICATING PROPERLY, BUT FE WAS BUSY WITH AN AIR-CONDITIONING PROB. CAPT HAD SELECTED RADIO ON HIS HSI TO XCHK VOR POS OVER EBBER AND SO IT WAS OF NO USE IN ALERTING US TO OFF COURSE. MY HSI WAS NATURALLY CTRED SHOWING CONTINUATION OF LAST COURSE. POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL FACTOR IS BACKSIDE OF CLOCK OPERATION. I HAD BEEN UP FOR 17 HRS AT TIME WITH ONLY A SHORT NAP BEFORE DEP. ALSO, I FEEL OMEGA SHOULD HAVE AN INDICATOR LIGHT TO SHOW WHEN SELECTOR IS IN MANUAL.

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.