A PA28 pilot, distraction by a radio problem, deviated from his assigned heading in sct airspace.

Attributes
ACN	514170
Time
Date	200106
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vny.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : glendale
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 1092 flight time type : 277
ASRS Report	514170
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on the glendale 8 departure from vny on an IFR flight to sna. The SID called for crossing vny 2.2 DME at or below 1700 ft, followed by a left turn to 110 degrees for vectors to vny 095 degree radial. As I began my turn to the 110 degree heading, I was handed off to socal by vny tower. Upon switching to socal's frequency, I experienced radio problems (I could barely hear socal). My attention to the radio problem allowed me to deviate to the east of the 110 degree heading. When I resolved the radio problem and established clear communication with socal, the controller questioned me as to why I was not adhering to the 110 degree heading. I explained that I had been experiencing radio problems and apologized for my heading deviation. He gave me a vector on course and I received no further comments as to this matter for the duration of the flight. My heading deviation was caused by my distraction with resolving the radio problem. That is, by failing to attend to the maxim 'aviate navigate, communicate.' I should not have allowed myself to compromise my adherence to the instrument departure procedure, particularly the heading. In the future, I will avoid this mistake by maintaining the proper vigilance over the navigation requirements of the flight while I am attempting to resolve other cockpit problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PLT, DISTR BY A RADIO PROB, DEVIATED FROM HIS ASSIGNED HDG IN SCT AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I WAS ON THE GLENDALE 8 DEP FROM VNY ON AN IFR FLT TO SNA. THE SID CALLED FOR XING VNY 2.2 DME AT OR BELOW 1700 FT, FOLLOWED BY A L TURN TO 110 DEGS FOR VECTORS TO VNY 095 DEG RADIAL. AS I BEGAN MY TURN TO THE 110 DEG HDG, I WAS HANDED OFF TO SOCAL BY VNY TWR. UPON SWITCHING TO SOCAL'S FREQ, I EXPERIENCED RADIO PROBS (I COULD BARELY HEAR SOCAL). MY ATTN TO THE RADIO PROB ALLOWED ME TO DEVIATE TO THE E OF THE 110 DEG HDG. WHEN I RESOLVED THE RADIO PROB AND ESTABLISHED CLR COM WITH SOCAL, THE CTLR QUESTIONED ME AS TO WHY I WAS NOT ADHERING TO THE 110 DEG HDG. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING RADIO PROBS AND APOLOGIZED FOR MY HDG DEV. HE GAVE ME A VECTOR ON COURSE AND I RECEIVED NO FURTHER COMMENTS AS TO THIS MATTER FOR THE DURATION OF THE FLT. MY HDG DEV WAS CAUSED BY MY DISTR WITH RESOLVING THE RADIO PROB. THAT IS, BY FAILING TO ATTEND TO THE MAXIM 'AVIATE NAVIGATE, COMMUNICATE.' I SHOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED MYSELF TO COMPROMISE MY ADHERENCE TO THE INST DEP PROC, PARTICULARLY THE HDG. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL AVOID THIS MISTAKE BY MAINTAINING THE PROPER VIGILANCE OVER THE NAV REQUIREMENTS OF THE FLT WHILE I AM ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE OTHER COCKPIT 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.