Narrative:

Kmci go around localizer back course runway 27 at approximately XY45Z jan/sat/92. Flight with copilot flying, was vectored by mci approach to intercept the localizer back course 27 at kmci and cleared for the approach at 4000 MSL. We joined the localizer back course 27 east of exurt, between exurt and mizzo (FAF) with aircraft on autoplt. Aircraft captured the localizer and turned 30 degree to southwest (heading 240 degrees +/-), while the captain (PNF) was backing up first officer with altitudes and distances for the non PAR approach, captain was also reading checklist and changing frequency to tower (kmci). Captain was in raw data mode (HSI versus map) and aircraft was slightly left of localizer centerline (1/2 DOT at 8-9 mi out from runway). The next time I scanned my HSI the aircraft was south of course and heading approximately 240 degrees. Captain told copilot to þget back on courseþ and completed call to kmci tower. By the time (10-15 seconds) kmci tower gave us a heading, I had already initiated a go around by having the first officer turn back to localizer heading. The crew complied and agreed with kmci of a go around and turned to the issued heading. The aircraft was outside of mizzo (FAF) at 3000 MSL. Crew completed second approach and landing in normal manner. Approach problem was identified by crew as inadvertent coupling of autoplt to localizer on a back course approach instead of using a heading sel. Note: all approach briefings and radio tuning and idents were done as per normal procedure including raw data on HSI for PNF (captain). Suggest that all briefings include a word about use of autoplts and approach couplers on the instrument approach brief since this type of ach is not flown very often (it has been over a yr since this captain had flown a localizer back course in the simulator and had recently been to large transport upgrade school).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK DEV DURING IAP LOC DME BACK COURSE APCH.

Narrative: KMCI GAR LOC BACK COURSE RWY 27 AT APPROX XY45Z JAN/SAT/92. FLT WITH COPLT FLYING, WAS VECTORED BY MCI APCH TO INTERCEPT THE LOC BACK COURSE 27 AT KMCI AND CLRED FOR THE APCH AT 4000 MSL. WE JOINED THE LOC BACK COURSE 27 E OF EXURT, BTWN EXURT AND MIZZO (FAF) WITH ACFT ON AUTOPLT. ACFT CAPTURED THE LOC AND TURNED 30 DEG TO SW (HDG 240 DEGS +/-), WHILE THE CAPT (PNF) WAS BACKING UP FO WITH ALTS AND DISTANCES FOR THE NON PAR APCH, CAPT WAS ALSO READING CHKLIST AND CHANGING FREQ TO TWR (KMCI). CAPT WAS IN RAW DATA MODE (HSI VERSUS MAP) AND ACFT WAS SLIGHTLY L OF LOC CTRLINE (1/2 DOT AT 8-9 MI OUT FROM RWY). THE NEXT TIME I SCANNED MY HSI THE ACFT WAS S OF COURSE AND HDG APPROX 240 DEGS. CAPT TOLD COPLT TO þGET BACK ON COURSEþ AND COMPLETED CALL TO KMCI TWR. BY THE TIME (10-15 SECONDS) KMCI TWR GAVE US A HDG, I HAD ALREADY INITIATED A GAR BY HAVING THE FO TURN BACK TO LOC HDG. THE CREW COMPLIED AND AGREED WITH KMCI OF A GAR AND TURNED TO THE ISSUED HDG. THE ACFT WAS OUTSIDE OF MIZZO (FAF) AT 3000 MSL. CREW COMPLETED SECOND APCH AND LNDG IN NORMAL MANNER. APCH PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED BY CREW AS INADVERTENT COUPLING OF AUTOPLT TO LOC ON A BACK COURSE APCH INSTEAD OF USING A HDG SEL. NOTE: ALL APCH BRIEFINGS AND RADIO TUNING AND IDENTS WERE DONE AS PER NORMAL PROC INCLUDING RAW DATA ON HSI FOR PNF (CAPT). SUGGEST THAT ALL BRIEFINGS INCLUDE A WORD ABOUT USE OF AUTOPLTS AND APCH COUPLERS ON THE INST APCH BRIEF SINCE THIS TYPE OF ACH IS NOT FLOWN VERY OFTEN (IT HAS BEEN OVER A YR SINCE THIS CAPT HAD FLOWN A LOC BACK COURSE IN THE SIMULATOR AND HAD RECENTLY BEEN TO LGT UPGRADE SCHOOL).

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.