<< >> NASA ASRS Report 193561, November 1991

Small aircraft pilot experiences extreme magnetic compass deviations. Receives center assist to descend. Compass again functions properly.

Attributes
ACN	193561
Time
Date	199111
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bzm airport : hky
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 1900 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	193561
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated controller : provided flight assist
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

In smooth air, compass instantly tilted maximum tilt all the way to the stops. Wings level. Made turn to right, then turn to left. Compass remained tilted -- totally useless. Contacted ZTL for vector to hickory with an IFR descent which was approved. Upon reaching 9000 ft compass started swinging back and forth. This action continued until approximately 4000 ft. After passing 4000 ft, compass returned to normal axis. Heading at that time was approximately 60 degree. Turbulence during the descent was present. Compass is full of fluid and properly set. Magnetic disturbance was somewhere nearby.

Related reports:

• C402 pilot experiences track and altitude deviations during ...
• CL601 flight crew experiences an air data computer failure a...
• C310 flight crew experiences course and altitude deviations ...
• B737-800 flight crew experiences a TCAS TA and egpws caution...
• Small aircraft twin at high altitude gets involved with thun...
• Bizjet commits multiple deviations from proper traffic patte...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT EXPERIENCES EXTREME MAGNETIC COMPASS DEVS. RECEIVES CENTER ASSIST TO DSND. COMPASS AGAIN FUNCTIONS PROPERLY.

Narrative: IN SMOOTH AIR, COMPASS INSTANTLY TILTED MAX TILT ALL THE WAY TO THE STOPS. WINGS LEVEL. MADE TURN TO R, THEN TURN TO L. COMPASS REMAINED TILTED -- TOTALLY USELESS. CONTACTED ZTL FOR VECTOR TO HICKORY WITH AN IFR DSCNT WHICH WAS APPROVED. UPON REACHING 9000 FT COMPASS STARTED SWINGING BACK AND FORTH. THIS ACTION CONTINUED UNTIL APPROX 4000 FT. AFTER PASSING 4000 FT, COMPASS RETURNED TO NORMAL AXIS. HDG AT THAT TIME WAS APPROX 60 DEG. TURB DURING THE DSCNT WAS PRESENT. COMPASS IS FULL OF FLUID AND PROPERLY SET. MAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WAS SOMEWHERE NEARBY.

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.