Departing eri in IMC pilot of small aircraft discovered his magnetic compass was malfunctioning and ...

Attributes
ACN	186273
Time
Date	199108
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : eri
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : eri
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 183 flight time total : 2702
ASRS Report	186273
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The problem with the aircraft directional gyro was known. The problem with the magnetic compass was not. You do not expect a problem with a compass, that indicates known headings. Compass will 'stick' on a heading, add that to a dg that needs reset every 5 mins. Upon climb out from eri, departure control clearance as follows when above 2100 ft my heading 210 degree direct yng when able. Due to the low ceiling and my known dg I wanted to be on course prior to penetrating the cloud deck and going IMC. (This was also the first instrument WX in a long while. The previous day I practiced 2 approachs and 1 hour hood time in this aircraft knowing I would be IFR actual on fri). My actual heading after climbing above 2100 was 240 degree on my dg heading was 210 degree. On the compass 248 degree. The compass was stuck between 240 and 250. I had both eri and yng VOR up and idented. Thinking I was tracking direct yng as cleared. After 2 mins approach told me to fly heading 210 degree which I believed I was. They said I was proceeding direct eri. In such a short period of time my actual heading had not affected the CDI for yng. In time it would have. I was tracking back to eri heading 240 degree. Eri was using runway 6 potential traffic conflict head on. I turned 20 degree left (30 degree I should have) sorted out the magnetic compass (got it unstuck by tapping with finger) reset the dg (every 4- 5 mins) while hand flying aircraft. (No autoplt). In IMC conditions turned another 10 degree left to 210 degree verified compass unstuck. Proceeded rest of flight normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEPARTING ERI IN IMC PLT OF SMA DISCOVERED HIS MAGNETIC COMPASS WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND HIS DIRECTIONAL GYRO WAS PRECESSING RAPIDLY. DEP CTLR GAVE HDGS UNTIL COMPASS PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED.

Narrative: THE PROBLEM WITH THE ACFT DIRECTIONAL GYRO WAS KNOWN. THE PROBLEM WITH THE MAG COMPASS WAS NOT. YOU DO NOT EXPECT A PROBLEM WITH A COMPASS, THAT INDICATES KNOWN HDGS. COMPASS WILL 'STICK' ON A HDG, ADD THAT TO A DG THAT NEEDS RESET EVERY 5 MINS. UPON CLBOUT FROM ERI, DEP CTL CLRNC AS FOLLOWS WHEN ABOVE 2100 FT MY HDG 210 DEG DIRECT YNG WHEN ABLE. DUE TO THE LOW CEILING AND MY KNOWN DG I WANTED TO BE ON COURSE PRIOR TO PENETRATING THE CLOUD DECK AND GOING IMC. (THIS WAS ALSO THE FIRST INST WX IN A LONG WHILE. THE PREVIOUS DAY I PRACTICED 2 APCHS AND 1 HR HOOD TIME IN THIS ACFT KNOWING I WOULD BE IFR ACTUAL ON FRI). MY ACTUAL HDG AFTER CLBING ABOVE 2100 WAS 240 DEG ON MY DG HDG WAS 210 DEG. ON THE COMPASS 248 DEG. THE COMPASS WAS STUCK BTWN 240 AND 250. I HAD BOTH ERI AND YNG VOR UP AND IDENTED. THINKING I WAS TRACKING DIRECT YNG AS CLRED. AFTER 2 MINS APCH TOLD ME TO FLY HDG 210 DEG WHICH I BELIEVED I WAS. THEY SAID I WAS PROCEEDING DIRECT ERI. IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME MY ACTUAL HDG HAD NOT AFFECTED THE CDI FOR YNG. IN TIME IT WOULD HAVE. I WAS TRACKING BACK TO ERI HDG 240 DEG. ERI WAS USING RWY 6 POTENTIAL TFC CONFLICT HEAD ON. I TURNED 20 DEG L (30 DEG I SHOULD HAVE) SORTED OUT THE MAGNETIC COMPASS (GOT IT UNSTUCK BY TAPPING WITH FINGER) RESET THE DG (EVERY 4- 5 MINS) WHILE HAND FLYING ACFT. (NO AUTOPLT). IN IMC CONDITIONS TURNED ANOTHER 10 DEG L TO 210 DEG VERIFIED COMPASS UNSTUCK. PROCEEDED REST OF FLT NORMALLY.

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.

Departing eri in IMC pilot of small aircraft discovered his magnetic compass was malfunctioning and his directional gyro was precessing rapidly. Departure controller gave headings until compass problem was resolved.