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Small aircraft pilot forgets to rechk his gyroscope prior to radar vectoring and experiences a heading track deviation in a non adherence to ATC clearance. Proximity to ground clouds.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 245399 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199307 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : bfi |
| State Reference | WA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2200 msl bound upper : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : sea tracon : azo |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 18 |
| ASRS Report | 245399 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited adverse environment other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I departed jefferson county airport near port townsend, wa, VFR. En route to bfi, WX was encountered which caused me to request IFR clearance to bfi. I obtained a WX briefing prior to departure from an FSS briefer. Bfi reporting 1700 ft overcast, visibility over 5 mi. After being given a clearance I was vectored (radar) to the back course runway 31L at bfi. I was given clearance to descend from 4000 ft to 2600 ft and intercept the localizer back course. I did not get a needle swing on the VOR indicator (it remained fully deflected). I maintained 3600 ft for a bit trying to determine the problem. Approach then said I was off course and gave me a new vector (280 degrees) to intercept. At this time I descended to 2600 ft at which time I had ground contact. The localizer needle still did not swing or I missed seeing it swing. The directional gyroscope was then rechked (I had set it 8 mins earlier) and found to be off approximately 18 degrees. I was still at 2200 ft and in visual flight conditions. I then contacted tower at bfi and was given landing clearance. I believe the directional gyroscope was off. I also feel I should fly that approach with an instructor to verify my performance.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SMA PLT FORGETS TO RECHK HIS GYROSCOPE PRIOR TO RADAR VECTORING AND EXPERIENCES A HDG TRACK DEV IN A NON ADHERENCE TO ATC CLRNC. PROX TO GND CLOUDS.
Narrative: I DEPARTED JEFFERSON COUNTY ARPT NEAR PORT TOWNSEND, WA, VFR. ENRTE TO BFI, WX WAS ENCOUNTERED WHICH CAUSED ME TO REQUEST IFR CLRNC TO BFI. I OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEP FROM AN FSS BRIEFER. BFI RPTING 1700 FT OVCST, VISIBILITY OVER 5 MI. AFTER BEING GIVEN A CLRNC I WAS VECTORED (RADAR) TO THE BACK COURSE RWY 31L AT BFI. I WAS GIVEN CLRNC TO DSND FROM 4000 FT TO 2600 FT AND INTERCEPT THE LOC BACK COURSE. I DID NOT GET A NEEDLE SWING ON THE VOR INDICATOR (IT REMAINED FULLY DEFLECTED). I MAINTAINED 3600 FT FOR A BIT TRYING TO DETERMINE THE PROB. APCH THEN SAID I WAS OFF COURSE AND GAVE ME A NEW VECTOR (280 DEGS) TO INTERCEPT. AT THIS TIME I DSNDED TO 2600 FT AT WHICH TIME I HAD GND CONTACT. THE LOC NEEDLE STILL DID NOT SWING OR I MISSED SEEING IT SWING. THE DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE WAS THEN RECHKED (I HAD SET IT 8 MINS EARLIER) AND FOUND TO BE OFF APPROX 18 DEGS. I WAS STILL AT 2200 FT AND IN VISUAL FLT CONDITIONS. I THEN CONTACTED TWR AT BFI AND WAS GIVEN LNDG CLRNC. I BELIEVE THE DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE WAS OFF. I ALSO FEEL I SHOULD FLY THAT APCH WITH AN INSTRUCTOR TO VERIFY MY PERFORMANCE.
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.