Inexperience with the FMC and its functions end in a route deviation during departure from cvg.

Attributes
ACN	527570
Time
Date	200110
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : iad.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : blugrass
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	527570
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

As PNF, I was responsible for executing FMC functions while the PF maintained control of the aircraft. While performing the bluegrass four departure from cvg (louisville iiu transition) we were given a heading of 180 degrees to intercept. I improperly performed course intercept procedures causing us to fly well west of the proper cvg 221 degree radial. I believe my inexperience with the FMC CDU was the single reason we violated instructions. A simple back up might be to dial in VOR radials as a back up before using the CDU. Our departure was also rushed because of a 'white powder' scare. We had to change airplanes at the last min.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INEXPERIENCE WITH THE FMC AND ITS FUNCTIONS END IN A RTE DEV DURING DEP FROM CVG.

Narrative: AS PNF, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING FMC FUNCTIONS WHILE THE PF MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE ACFT. WHILE PERFORMING THE BLUEGRASS FOUR DEP FROM CVG (LOUISVILLE IIU TRANSITION) WE WERE GIVEN A HDG OF 180 DEGREES TO INTERCEPT. I IMPROPERLY PERFORMED COURSE INTERCEPT PROCEDURES CAUSING US TO FLY WELL W OF THE PROPER CVG 221 DEGREE RADIAL. I BELIEVE MY INEXPERIENCE WITH THE FMC CDU WAS THE SINGLE REASON WE VIOLATED INSTRUCTIONS. A SIMPLE BACK UP MIGHT BE TO DIAL IN VOR RADIALS AS A BACK UP BEFORE USING THE CDU. OUR DEP WAS ALSO RUSHED BECAUSE OF A 'WHITE POWDER' SCARE. WE HAD TO CHANGE AIRPLANES AT THE LAST MIN.

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.