Problem maintaining heading. Found compass system in directional gyroscope position versus slave.

Attributes
ACN	198410
Time
Date	199201
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : psp
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tower : psp tower : bgr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	198410
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Crew took over aircraft in psp after deadheading on same aircraft. Previous flight crew had selected compass system to directional gyroscope instead of slave. After takeoff we were unable to hold heading assigned by ATC. We used a standby compass (wet) until we discovered the cause of our problem. No warning system to indicate status of compass system (slave, directional gyroscope).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PROBLEM MAINTAINING HDG. FOUND COMPASS SYS IN DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE POS VERSUS SLAVE.

Narrative: CREW TOOK OVER ACFT IN PSP AFTER DEADHEADING ON SAME ACFT. PREVIOUS FLC HAD SELECTED COMPASS SYS TO DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE INSTEAD OF SLAVE. AFTER TKOF WE WERE UNABLE TO HOLD HDG ASSIGNED BY ATC. WE USED A STANDBY COMPASS (WET) UNTIL WE DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF OUR PROBLEM. NO WARNING SYS TO INDICATE STATUS OF COMPASS SYS (SLAVE, DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE).

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.