MD11 first officer alerted to early SID turn error by captain and S46 departure controller.

Attributes
ACN	534050
Time
Date	200201
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sea.vortac
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s46.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure sid : mountain5
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 95 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	534050
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	534372
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure I turned left to a heading of 070 degrees per SID (mountain 5 departure, runway 16L) at 3000 ft or above. Turn was started at 2.5 DME versus 5.0 DME as required by SID. 1/2 way through turn, I was advised of my error by departure. We were then cleared on course as filed. Supplemental information from acn 534372: we had briefed the departure but when he began turn early, I referenced the SID, but as I was doing so, departure control had already noted our early turn. First officer selected navigation on the FGS too early and I didn't catch it. Departure should have been briefed more thoroughly, including flight guidance modes to be used.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD11 FO ALERTED TO EARLY SID TURN ERROR BY CAPT AND S46 DEP CTLR.

Narrative: ON DEP I TURNED L TO A HDG OF 070 DEGS PER SID (MOUNTAIN 5 DEP, RWY 16L) AT 3000 FT OR ABOVE. TURN WAS STARTED AT 2.5 DME VERSUS 5.0 DME AS REQUIRED BY SID. 1/2 WAY THROUGH TURN, I WAS ADVISED OF MY ERROR BY DEP. WE WERE THEN CLRED ON COURSE AS FILED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 534372: WE HAD BRIEFED THE DEP BUT WHEN HE BEGAN TURN EARLY, I REFED THE SID, BUT AS I WAS DOING SO, DEP CTL HAD ALREADY NOTED OUR EARLY TURN. FO SELECTED NAV ON THE FGS TOO EARLY AND I DIDN'T CATCH IT. DEP SHOULD HAVE BEEN BRIEFED MORE THOROUGHLY, INCLUDING FLT GUIDANCE MODES TO BE USED.

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.