An light transport, while dealing with a trim problem, failed to turn to a new vector heading.

Attributes
ACN	224012
Time
Date	199210
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lgc airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	224012
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Just leveling off at cruise at 18000 ft on a 230 degree heading. As first officer engaged autoplt, trim began to run away nose down. At the same time, ATC called and assigned a 265 degree heading. I (captain) read it back, then went back to dealing with the trim problem and running checklist. As I was doing so, ATC called back and verified our heading. Uh oh! I had forgotten or had I ever remembered? We then turned to a 265 degree heading which took us away from the arrival route. Good heads up work by ATC. Sometimes during urgent duties, we tend to focus on 1 situation and lose sight of the 'big picture.' although, looking back, I do remember reading back the heading. I believe it was done so out of rote, simply to appease ATC and let me focus on dealing with the runaway trim. I've been a captain now for 2 months, and each trip I gain some sort of new experience. Isn't that what makes flying great? Fly the airplane. Keep the big picture. Think ahead. Don't rush your thinking. Use your crew as a team. Let them help you. Lead the team. Read callback of course!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN LTT, WHILE DEALING WITH A TRIM PROBLEM, FAILED TO TURN TO A NEW VECTOR HDG.

Narrative: JUST LEVELING OFF AT CRUISE AT 18000 FT ON A 230 DEG HDG. AS FO ENGAGED AUTOPLT, TRIM BEGAN TO RUN AWAY NOSE DOWN. AT THE SAME TIME, ATC CALLED AND ASSIGNED A 265 DEG HDG. I (CAPT) READ IT BACK, THEN WENT BACK TO DEALING WITH THE TRIM PROBLEM AND RUNNING CHKLIST. AS I WAS DOING SO, ATC CALLED BACK AND VERIFIED OUR HDG. UH OH! I HAD FORGOTTEN OR HAD I EVER REMEMBERED? WE THEN TURNED TO A 265 DEG HDG WHICH TOOK US AWAY FROM THE ARR RTE. GOOD HEADS UP WORK BY ATC. SOMETIMES DURING URGENT DUTIES, WE TEND TO FOCUS ON 1 SITUATION AND LOSE SIGHT OF THE 'BIG PICTURE.' ALTHOUGH, LOOKING BACK, I DO REMEMBER READING BACK THE HDG. I BELIEVE IT WAS DONE SO OUT OF ROTE, SIMPLY TO APPEASE ATC AND LET ME FOCUS ON DEALING WITH THE RUNAWAY TRIM. I'VE BEEN A CAPT NOW FOR 2 MONTHS, AND EACH TRIP I GAIN SOME SORT OF NEW EXPERIENCE. ISN'T THAT WHAT MAKES FLYING GREAT? FLY THE AIRPLANE. KEEP THE BIG PICTURE. THINK AHEAD. DON'T RUSH YOUR THINKING. USE YOUR CREW AS A TEAM. LET THEM HELP YOU. LEAD THE TEAM. READ CALLBACK OF COURSE!

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.