<< >> NASA ASRS Report 396770, March 1998

An air carrier MD80 flight crew reports that their course deviation indicator started to show an erratic course indication while tracking dqo VOR. The ARTCC controller reported them off course and vectored them to the correct course.

Attributes
ACN	396770
Time
Date	199803
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dqo
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 26000 msl bound upper : 26000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	396770
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	396769
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other 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 other

Narrative:

While inbound to lga on the minks arrival ZDC told us to turn to 360 degrees to reintercept the 233 degree radial off dupont and that we were 'well east of course.' both myself and the first officer had us on centerline just before his call. At the time of his call we indeed showed approximately 5 degrees CDI deflection. However, the CDI was very erratic as we were getting poor guidance from dupont. We recentered surprisingly fast after the turn to intercept confirming in my mind the erratic signals from the VOR. In the future, when we start getting erratic course guidance from vors, which is often the case on the east coast, I will ask center/approach for course vectors.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MD80 FLC RPTS THAT THEIR COURSE DEV INDICATOR STARTED TO SHOW AN ERRATIC COURSE INDICATION WHILE TRACKING DQO VOR. THE ARTCC CTLR RPTED THEM OFF COURSE AND VECTORED THEM TO THE CORRECT COURSE.

Narrative: WHILE INBOUND TO LGA ON THE MINKS ARR ZDC TOLD US TO TURN TO 360 DEGS TO REINTERCEPT THE 233 DEG RADIAL OFF DUPONT AND THAT WE WERE 'WELL E OF COURSE.' BOTH MYSELF AND THE FO HAD US ON CTRLINE JUST BEFORE HIS CALL. AT THE TIME OF HIS CALL WE INDEED SHOWED APPROX 5 DEGS CDI DEFLECTION. HOWEVER, THE CDI WAS VERY ERRATIC AS WE WERE GETTING POOR GUIDANCE FROM DUPONT. WE RECENTERED SURPRISINGLY FAST AFTER THE TURN TO INTERCEPT CONFIRMING IN MY MIND THE ERRATIC SIGNALS FROM THE VOR. IN THE FUTURE, WHEN WE START GETTING ERRATIC COURSE GUIDANCE FROM VORS, WHICH IS OFTEN THE CASE ON THE EAST COAST, I WILL ASK CTR/APCH FOR COURSE VECTORS.

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.