Lost heading information when all 4 RMI CDI compasses failed to synchronize.

Attributes
ACN	230339
Time
Date	199301
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu
State Reference	NC
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdu tower : tpa
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	230339
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	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Takeoff rdu runway 5L lost directional information. Was told to turn to 035 degrees, 035 was right of course instead of left (050 degrees to 035 degrees) became confused. Checked headings -- 4 instruments indicated differently. Unable to engage autoplt (normal these circumstances). Drifted right of course crossing parallel runway 5R. Asked for radar vectors to return to rdu. Used timed turns to land runway 5L to visual. Copilot and flight engineer unable to get instruments to synchronize, RMI CDI both sides. Due to the amount of traffic and radio xmissions, things became very tense. ATC did an excellent job.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOST HDG INFO WHEN ALL 4 RMI CDI COMPASSES FAILED TO SYNCHRONIZE.

Narrative: TKOF RDU RWY 5L LOST DIRECTIONAL INFO. WAS TOLD TO TURN TO 035 DEGS, 035 WAS R OF COURSE INSTEAD OF L (050 DEGS TO 035 DEGS) BECAME CONFUSED. CHKED HDGS -- 4 INSTS INDICATED DIFFERENTLY. UNABLE TO ENGAGE AUTOPLT (NORMAL THESE CIRCUMSTANCES). DRIFTED R OF COURSE XING PARALLEL RWY 5R. ASKED FOR RADAR VECTORS TO RETURN TO RDU. USED TIMED TURNS TO LAND RWY 5L TO VISUAL. COPLT AND FE UNABLE TO GET INSTS TO SYNCHRONIZE, RMI CDI BOTH SIDES. DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TFC AND RADIO XMISSIONS, THINGS BECAME VERY TENSE. ATC DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.

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.