Heading track deviation, too early a turn in SID departure procedure.

Attributes
ACN	252386
Time
Date	199309
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phx tower : mht
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	252386
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	252479
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure from phx on eagul 2 SID, captain was navigating using VOR/DME. I was using FMC data. Captain made turn to 360 degrees at 4 DME instead of 9 DME. FMC showed turn at 4 DME so I didn't question captain. Controller caught error. SID's, especially on west coast, are too complicated to fly manually. Too much time spent tuning radios and bearings instead of looking for traffic. Most of this is for noise abatement. Airport was there first. Supplemental information from acn 252479: the departure was briefed. The first point on the SID was to cross 4 DME at or below 3000 ft. This check was verified and called. A turn to 360 degree heading was then made. The SID called for the turn to be commenced at 9 DME. The FMC was programmed for a 9 DME point, therefore with a lead time it showed a turn also. I had not flown out of phx in several yrs. The week prior, I had studied the SID extensively and performed the departure as published. This was my second departure and I did not give the SID the focus that it required. Corrective action: increased focus on SID, especially those that have not been flown that often.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HDG TRACK DEV, TOO EARLY A TURN IN SID DEP PROC.

Narrative: ON DEP FROM PHX ON EAGUL 2 SID, CAPT WAS NAVING USING VOR/DME. I WAS USING FMC DATA. CAPT MADE TURN TO 360 DEGS AT 4 DME INSTEAD OF 9 DME. FMC SHOWED TURN AT 4 DME SO I DIDN'T QUESTION CAPT. CTLR CAUGHT ERROR. SID'S, ESPECIALLY ON WEST COAST, ARE TOO COMPLICATED TO FLY MANUALLY. TOO MUCH TIME SPENT TUNING RADIOS AND BEARINGS INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR TFC. MOST OF THIS IS FOR NOISE ABATEMENT. ARPT WAS THERE FIRST. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 252479: THE DEP WAS BRIEFED. THE FIRST POINT ON THE SID WAS TO CROSS 4 DME AT OR BELOW 3000 FT. THIS CHK WAS VERIFIED AND CALLED. A TURN TO 360 DEG HDG WAS THEN MADE. THE SID CALLED FOR THE TURN TO BE COMMENCED AT 9 DME. THE FMC WAS PROGRAMMED FOR A 9 DME POINT, THEREFORE WITH A LEAD TIME IT SHOWED A TURN ALSO. I HAD NOT FLOWN OUT OF PHX IN SEVERAL YRS. THE WK PRIOR, I HAD STUDIED THE SID EXTENSIVELY AND PERFORMED THE DEP AS PUBLISHED. THIS WAS MY SECOND DEP AND I DID NOT GIVE THE SID THE FOCUS THAT IT REQUIRED. CORRECTIVE ACTION: INCREASED FOCUS ON SID, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FLOWN THAT OFTEN.

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.