A precessing gyro causes a track deviation after takeoff from bhm, al, that is detected and correcte...

Attributes
ACN	504060
Time
Date	200103
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bhm.airport
State Reference	AL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bhm.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1140 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	504060
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was flying a piper warrior from bhm to eky. The directional gyro was set before takeoff. After takeoff, a 090 degree heading was assigned. After a min or two, departure questioned whether I was on a 090 degree heading. I replied I was very close, as I was within 5 degrees. ATC then said that they needed me on a 090 degree heading to avoid traffic. I replied my understanding, and then noticed my directional gyro was off. The magnetic compass was showing approximately 115 degrees. I aligned the directional gyro to the compass and then corrected my heading with a turn to the left.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PRECESSING GYRO CAUSES A TRACK DEV AFTER TKOF FROM BHM, AL, THAT IS DETECTED AND CORRECTED BY ATC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING A PIPER WARRIOR FROM BHM TO EKY. THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO WAS SET BEFORE TKOF. AFTER TKOF, A 090 DEG HDG WAS ASSIGNED. AFTER A MIN OR TWO, DEP QUESTIONED WHETHER I WAS ON A 090 DEG HDG. I REPLIED I WAS VERY CLOSE, AS I WAS WITHIN 5 DEGS. ATC THEN SAID THAT THEY NEEDED ME ON A 090 DEG HDG TO AVOID TFC. I REPLIED MY UNDERSTANDING, AND THEN NOTICED MY DIRECTIONAL GYRO WAS OFF. THE MAGNETIC COMPASS WAS SHOWING APPROX 115 DEGS. I ALIGNED THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO TO THE COMPASS AND THEN CORRECTED MY HDG WITH A TURN TO THE L.

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.

A precessing gyro causes a track deviation after takeoff from bhm, al, that is detected and corrected by ATC.