Air carrier medium large transport deviated from clearance route. Track heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	124063
Time
Date	198910
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pmd
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : j6
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	124063
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We had just leveled off at 33,000' going direct to pmd. We received a call from the F/a's that a water leak in the right aft lavatory had developed. Water was running and could not be turned off. The first officer was flying the airplane. I asked him to look up in the operating manual how to shut the water off. He was reading the book to me and we were discussing with the F/a's how to shut the water off. At this time we flew over pmd where we were supposed to make a 60 degree left turn to intercept J6. We then realized we missed our turn and turned to get back on course. We went 15-20 mi off course from J6. No doubt flying the airplane is the most important thing. We paid too much attention to a problem with the airplane and forgot the most important thing -- fly the airplane. After correcting our route of flight the first officer went to the cabin and shut off the water using a shut off valve. Again, this problem should not have happened at all. One man flies the airplane at all times, while the other crew member solves the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG DEVIATED FROM CLRNC ROUTE. TRACK HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: WE HAD JUST LEVELED OFF AT 33,000' GOING DIRECT TO PMD. WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE F/A'S THAT A WATER LEAK IN THE RIGHT AFT LAVATORY HAD DEVELOPED. WATER WAS RUNNING AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE F/O WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE. I ASKED HIM TO LOOK UP IN THE OPERATING MANUAL HOW TO SHUT THE WATER OFF. HE WAS READING THE BOOK TO ME AND WE WERE DISCUSSING WITH THE F/A'S HOW TO SHUT THE WATER OFF. AT THIS TIME WE FLEW OVER PMD WHERE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A 60 DEG LEFT TURN TO INTERCEPT J6. WE THEN REALIZED WE MISSED OUR TURN AND TURNED TO GET BACK ON COURSE. WE WENT 15-20 MI OFF COURSE FROM J6. NO DOUBT FLYING THE AIRPLANE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. WE PAID TOO MUCH ATTN TO A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE AND FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING -- FLY THE AIRPLANE. AFTER CORRECTING OUR ROUTE OF FLT THE F/O WENT TO THE CABIN AND SHUT OFF THE WATER USING A SHUT OFF VALVE. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT ALL. ONE MAN FLIES THE AIRPLANE AT ALL TIMES, WHILE THE OTHER CREW MEMBER SOLVES THE PROBLEM.

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.