<< >> NASA ASRS Report 399270, April 1998

An air carrier B737 flight crew failed to turn to an assigned heading because the captain did not hear the instruction, twice.

Attributes
ACN	399270
Time
Date	199804
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl tracon : hsv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	399270
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was en route from jax to bna. We were north of atl proceeding direct to cha to intercept the volls arrival. Our heading was approximately 330 degrees. ZTL called and told us to turn right to 350 degrees. I read that back to ATC, but I did not notice that the captain failed to turn the aircraft. I was working on the aircraft logbook at the time. About 1 min later, ZTL called again and said to turn right to 360 degrees. I read that back, but again I failed to notice the captain not turning the aircraft. ATC called again and asked us our heading. The captain answered on the radio 330 degrees. ZTL then directed a tight turn to 360 degrees. A few mins later, ATC cleared us direct to cha and gave us a radio change. The problem arose because the captain did not hear the radio xmissions and the first officer did not realize it. From that point we started repeating all headings given by ATC and had no further problems.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B737 FLC FAILED TO TURN TO AN ASSIGNED HDG BECAUSE THE CAPT DID NOT HEAR THE INSTRUCTION, TWICE.

Narrative: FLT WAS ENRTE FROM JAX TO BNA. WE WERE N OF ATL PROCEEDING DIRECT TO CHA TO INTERCEPT THE VOLLS ARR. OUR HDG WAS APPROX 330 DEGS. ZTL CALLED AND TOLD US TO TURN R TO 350 DEGS. I READ THAT BACK TO ATC, BUT I DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE CAPT FAILED TO TURN THE ACFT. I WAS WORKING ON THE ACFT LOGBOOK AT THE TIME. ABOUT 1 MIN LATER, ZTL CALLED AGAIN AND SAID TO TURN R TO 360 DEGS. I READ THAT BACK, BUT AGAIN I FAILED TO NOTICE THE CAPT NOT TURNING THE ACFT. ATC CALLED AGAIN AND ASKED US OUR HDG. THE CAPT ANSWERED ON THE RADIO 330 DEGS. ZTL THEN DIRECTED A TIGHT TURN TO 360 DEGS. A FEW MINS LATER, ATC CLRED US DIRECT TO CHA AND GAVE US A RADIO CHANGE. THE PROB AROSE BECAUSE THE CAPT DID NOT HEAR THE RADIO XMISSIONS AND THE FO DID NOT REALIZE IT. FROM THAT POINT WE STARTED REPEATING ALL HDGS GIVEN BY ATC AND HAD NO FURTHER PROBS.

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.