Narrative:

While on descent and delaying vectors into ord controller stated, 'approach backed up, cleared direct to plant intersection, 10000', hold right turns, 10 DME legs, efc shortly.' when plant inserted into computer realized we were on top of it (must have been 2-3 mi from it when clearance issued). Entered hold while leveling at 10000' and slowing to hold speed. At this point I was still concerned about getting an efc, looking at and adjusting radar, and listening to very busy frequency. First officer (PF) entered hold information in computer at this time. While aircraft was in turn back to plant intersection ATC told us we were 5 mi south (on non-holding side) and questioned if we had the proper radial set up. At this point we both realized that the inbound course (297 degrees off knox VOR) had not been inserted into computer and aircraft held at plant on its inbound course when original clearance 'direct plant' issued. Entered proper inbound course (297 degrees) and aircraft re-entered hold. Perhaps if controller had said, 'as published,' it would have keyed us to check the inbound course. We did not have area charts out at the time hold was issued (only approach plates). Some time was lost (after controller said we were south of published pattern) getting out proper charts. I put too much faith in the computer--it displayed a beautiful holding pattern on the EFIS, only it was not the holding pattern 'as published,' but one that was slightly south.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG DEVIATED FROM CLRNC. FAILED TO HOLD ON PUBLISHED PATTERN.

Narrative: WHILE ON DSCNT AND DELAYING VECTORS INTO ORD CTLR STATED, 'APCH BACKED UP, CLRED DIRECT TO PLANT INTXN, 10000', HOLD RIGHT TURNS, 10 DME LEGS, EFC SHORTLY.' WHEN PLANT INSERTED INTO COMPUTER REALIZED WE WERE ON TOP OF IT (MUST HAVE BEEN 2-3 MI FROM IT WHEN CLRNC ISSUED). ENTERED HOLD WHILE LEVELING AT 10000' AND SLOWING TO HOLD SPD. AT THIS POINT I WAS STILL CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING AN EFC, LOOKING AT AND ADJUSTING RADAR, AND LISTENING TO VERY BUSY FREQ. F/O (PF) ENTERED HOLD INFO IN COMPUTER AT THIS TIME. WHILE ACFT WAS IN TURN BACK TO PLANT INTXN ATC TOLD US WE WERE 5 MI S (ON NON-HOLDING SIDE) AND QUESTIONED IF WE HAD THE PROPER RADIAL SET UP. AT THIS POINT WE BOTH REALIZED THAT THE INBND COURSE (297 DEGS OFF KNOX VOR) HAD NOT BEEN INSERTED INTO COMPUTER AND ACFT HELD AT PLANT ON ITS INBND COURSE WHEN ORIGINAL CLRNC 'DIRECT PLANT' ISSUED. ENTERED PROPER INBND COURSE (297 DEGS) AND ACFT RE-ENTERED HOLD. PERHAPS IF CTLR HAD SAID, 'AS PUBLISHED,' IT WOULD HAVE KEYED US TO CHK THE INBND COURSE. WE DID NOT HAVE AREA CHARTS OUT AT THE TIME HOLD WAS ISSUED (ONLY APCH PLATES). SOME TIME WAS LOST (AFTER CTLR SAID WE WERE S OF PUBLISHED PATTERN) GETTING OUT PROPER CHARTS. I PUT TOO MUCH FAITH IN THE COMPUTER--IT DISPLAYED A BEAUTIFUL HOLDING PATTERN ON THE EFIS, ONLY IT WAS NOT THE HOLDING PATTERN 'AS PUBLISHED,' BUT ONE THAT WAS SLIGHTLY S.

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.