Piper PA31 pilot forgot to reset directional gyroscope to the compass prior to takeoff resulting turning past departure heading and entering class B airspace.

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Attributes
ACN	520734
Time
Date	200108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb.airport
State Reference	NJ
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 6
ASRS Report	520734
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : compass other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a maintenance flight to deliver a crew to a company aircraft, we departed teb and assigned 270 degree heading on climb out after departing runway 24. Aircraft strayed off course to the south approaching edge of class B surface for ewr. Controller queried heading and we responded assigned, as indicated by both pilot and copilot directional gyroscope. This was compared to the magnetic compass. We were 30 degrees off of magnetic. Both pilots failed to set and verify directional gyroscope before takeoff. Things wrong/causes: 1) neither of us are full-time pilots and not used to working together, 2) failed to use appropriate checklists, and 3) assumed, slaved gyroscope would set itself. We will now use checklists all the time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA31 PLT FORGOT TO RESET DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE TO THE COMPASS PRIOR TO TKOF RESULTING TURNING PAST DEP HEADING AND ENTERING CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ON A MAINT FLT TO DELIVER A CREW TO A COMPANY ACFT, WE DEPARTED TEB AND ASSIGNED 270 DEG HDG ON CLBOUT AFTER DEPARTING RWY 24. ACFT STRAYED OFF COURSE TO THE S APCHING EDGE OF CLASS B SURFACE FOR EWR. CTLR QUERIED HEADING AND WE RESPONDED ASSIGNED, AS INDICATED BY BOTH PLT AND COPLT DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE. THIS WAS COMPARED TO THE MAGNETIC COMPASS. WE WERE 30 DEGS OFF OF MAGNETIC. BOTH PLTS FAILED TO SET AND VERIFY DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE BEFORE TKOF. THINGS WRONG/CAUSES: 1) NEITHER OF US ARE FULL-TIME PLTS AND NOT USED TO WORKING TOGETHER, 2) FAILED TO USE APPROPRIATE CHKLISTS, AND 3) ASSUMED, SLAVED GYROSCOPE WOULD SET ITSELF. WE WILL NOW USE CHKLISTS ALL THE TIME.

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.