<< >> NASA ASRS Report 706329, August 2006

An A300 in cruise flight on autoplt and using FMS navigation started a turn to the new course almost 8 mi before the VOR.

Attributes
ACN	706329
Time
Date	200608
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : vhp.vortac
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain Thunderstorm Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	706329
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Very busy workload: thunderstorms; heavy rain; busy ATC; route modifications; fuel concerns; suspected smoke smell in cockpit on climb out; static on radio (due to precipitation); like call signs; re-rtes; very late departure due to area WX. We were routed V53-strep direct vhp direct abq. The very large degree change in the turn (in excess of 90 degrees) at cruise speed of 280 KIAS (at FL290); the FMS started the turn 7.7 NM from vhp for abq. The controller questioned us as to if we were direct vhp and stated that our turn was a 'little early.' with the very heavy workload on the crew; neither of us recognized that the turn was being made so far out.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A300 IN CRUISE FLT ON AUTOPLT AND USING FMS NAV STARTED A TURN TO THE NEW COURSE ALMOST 8 MI BEFORE THE VOR.

Narrative: VERY BUSY WORKLOAD: TSTMS; HVY RAIN; BUSY ATC; RTE MODIFICATIONS; FUEL CONCERNS; SUSPECTED SMOKE SMELL IN COCKPIT ON CLBOUT; STATIC ON RADIO (DUE TO PRECIP); LIKE CALL SIGNS; RE-RTES; VERY LATE DEP DUE TO AREA WX. WE WERE ROUTED V53-STREP DIRECT VHP DIRECT ABQ. THE VERY LARGE DEG CHANGE IN THE TURN (IN EXCESS OF 90 DEGS) AT CRUISE SPD OF 280 KIAS (AT FL290); THE FMS STARTED THE TURN 7.7 NM FROM VHP FOR ABQ. THE CTLR QUESTIONED US AS TO IF WE WERE DIRECT VHP AND STATED THAT OUR TURN WAS A 'LITTLE EARLY.' WITH THE VERY HVY WORKLOAD ON THE CREW; NEITHER OF US RECOGNIZED THAT THE TURN WAS BEING MADE SO FAR OUT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.