Narrative:

While at FL280 proceeding direct elm, I initiated a small left course correction to adjust for some strong westerly winds at altitude using the control knob on the pedestal. Upon completion of the correction I rolled the aircraft to what I thought was wings level (centered position on control knob which is spring-loaded to centered position). Herein lies the beginning of the problem. Apparently the control knob did not center up and a 2-3 degree bank angle resulted which netted a continuation of my left hand turn. I then diverted my attention to my charts and turned away from the instruments. When I returned my attention forward I discovered the heading deviation which by this time was roughly 50 degree off my desired heading. I immediately initiated a 30 degree bank turn back to the right to return the aircraft to the desired track. As I rolled out on about a 330-340 heading set up to intercept the elm 303 radial outbnd, the center controller questioned our heading and track. I informed him at that time of a heading problem and that I was correcting back to course. No further comments/discussion followed for about 5 mins at which time this same controller advised me that I should call when I land in dtw. It appeared that my deviation resulted in another aircraft also at FL280 on a parallel course to be descended but not before a conflict developed. We apparently passed within 4 1/2 mi and 400+ feet. At no time prior to my own corrective action was I advised or instructed by the controller to initiate any course or altitude change nor of any possible conflict.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR DRIFTED OFF COURSE AND CONFLICTED WITH ANOTHER ACFT AT THE SAME ALT RESULTING IN LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION.

Narrative: WHILE AT FL280 PROCEEDING DIRECT ELM, I INITIATED A SMALL LEFT COURSE CORRECTION TO ADJUST FOR SOME STRONG WESTERLY WINDS AT ALT USING THE CONTROL KNOB ON THE PEDESTAL. UPON COMPLETION OF THE CORRECTION I ROLLED THE ACFT TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS WINGS LEVEL (CENTERED POSITION ON CONTROL KNOB WHICH IS SPRING-LOADED TO CENTERED POSITION). HEREIN LIES THE BEGINNING OF THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THE CONTROL KNOB DID NOT CENTER UP AND A 2-3 DEG BANK ANGLE RESULTED WHICH NETTED A CONTINUATION OF MY LEFT HAND TURN. I THEN DIVERTED MY ATTN TO MY CHARTS AND TURNED AWAY FROM THE INSTRUMENTS. WHEN I RETURNED MY ATTN FORWARD I DISCOVERED THE HDG DEVIATION WHICH BY THIS TIME WAS ROUGHLY 50 DEG OFF MY DESIRED HDG. I IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A 30 DEG BANK TURN BACK TO THE RIGHT TO RETURN THE ACFT TO THE DESIRED TRACK. AS I ROLLED OUT ON ABOUT A 330-340 HDG SET UP TO INTERCEPT THE ELM 303 RADIAL OUTBND, THE CENTER CTLR QUESTIONED OUR HDG AND TRACK. I INFORMED HIM AT THAT TIME OF A HDG PROBLEM AND THAT I WAS CORRECTING BACK TO COURSE. NO FURTHER COMMENTS/DISCUSSION FOLLOWED FOR ABOUT 5 MINS AT WHICH TIME THIS SAME CTLR ADVISED ME THAT I SHOULD CALL WHEN I LAND IN DTW. IT APPEARED THAT MY DEVIATION RESULTED IN ANOTHER ACFT ALSO AT FL280 ON A PARALLEL COURSE TO BE DESCENDED BUT NOT BEFORE A CONFLICT DEVELOPED. WE APPARENTLY PASSED WITHIN 4 1/2 MI AND 400+ FEET. AT NO TIME PRIOR TO MY OWN CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS I ADVISED OR INSTRUCTED BY THE CTLR TO INITIATE ANY COURSE OR ALT CHANGE NOR OF ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.