Private pilot up for his biennial flight review in IMC loses his directional gyroscope. Heading track deviation occurs. Alert approach controller offers flight assist with 'no gyro' turns to departure airport.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	344570
Time
Date	199608
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : emi airport : gai
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	344570
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was receiving a BFR check ride from an instructor. We were on an IFR flight plan with ATC clearance to practice holding. It was IFR/raining conditions with poor light in the cockpit. As we approached the VOR we determined that the directional gyroscope was failing. I then drifted off the VOR track and missed the VOR while trying to adjust to the magnetic compass. We notified ATC of the failed directional gyroscope and asked for vectors to the VOR approach at our home base field. ATC gave us a heading of 220 degrees. In setting up for the approach I had to locate and illuminate the approach plate. While doing this I drifted into a left turn. When I checked the magnetic compass I misinterpreted which way to correct and initiated another left turn. By the time I figured it out we were heading 160 dges. ATC asked about our heading and then stated he was using his authority/authorized to declare an emergency for us and he was sending us to a large airport with an ILS (finally). In the end, ATC saved us 'no gyro' turns to the home base VOR and we tracked in without further problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT UP FOR HIS BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW IN IMC LOSES HIS DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE. HDG TRACK DEV OCCURS. ALERT APCH CTLR OFFERS FLT ASSIST WITH 'NO GYRO' TURNS TO DEP ARPT.

Narrative: I WAS RECEIVING A BFR CHK RIDE FROM AN INSTRUCTOR. WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WITH ATC CLRNC TO PRACTICE HOLDING. IT WAS IFR/RAINING CONDITIONS WITH POOR LIGHT IN THE COCKPIT. AS WE APCHED THE VOR WE DETERMINED THAT THE DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE WAS FAILING. I THEN DRIFTED OFF THE VOR TRACK AND MISSED THE VOR WHILE TRYING TO ADJUST TO THE MAGNETIC COMPASS. WE NOTIFIED ATC OF THE FAILED DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE AND ASKED FOR VECTORS TO THE VOR APCH AT OUR HOME BASE FIELD. ATC GAVE US A HDG OF 220 DEGS. IN SETTING UP FOR THE APCH I HAD TO LOCATE AND ILLUMINATE THE APCH PLATE. WHILE DOING THIS I DRIFTED INTO A L TURN. WHEN I CHKED THE MAGNETIC COMPASS I MISINTERPRETED WHICH WAY TO CORRECT AND INITIATED ANOTHER L TURN. BY THE TIME I FIGURED IT OUT WE WERE HDG 160 DGES. ATC ASKED ABOUT OUR HDG AND THEN STATED HE WAS USING HIS AUTH TO DECLARE AN EMER FOR US AND HE WAS SENDING US TO A LARGE ARPT WITH AN ILS (FINALLY). IN THE END, ATC SAVED US 'NO GYRO' TURNS TO THE HOME BASE VOR AND WE TRACKED IN WITHOUT FURTHER PROB.

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.