SMA X ACFT EQUIP PROB GYRO WRONG DIRECTION TURN HAD LTSS FROM ACR Y TCASII RA. EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN. PLTDEV.

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SMA X DEPARTED ATL RWY 27R. TOLD TO TURN L HDG 200 DEGS. SMA X DID NOT TURN AND THEN WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY HDG 180 DEGS. SMA X THEN STARTED A R TURN AND ADVISED HE LOST HIS GYRO. ACR Y WAS AIRBORNE OFF THE W END OF RWY 26L. TA WAS ISSUED TO BOTH ACFT. ACR Y WAS AT 2500 FT WHEN THEY PASSED. SMA X WAS AT 3000 FT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 257749: SMA X DEPARTED RWY 27R AT ATL. ACR Y DEPARTED 26L. SMA X WA TURNED SBOUND AND SWITCHED TO DEP. APPARENTLY; SMA X LOST OR NEVER SET GYRO AND MADE A R TURN TO CROSS ACR Y DEP COURSE. ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH ACR Y I ISSUED TA 'MAINTAIN 2000' AND ISSUED TFC. ACR Y LEVELED HIS CLB AT 2500 FT WITH SMA X AT 3000 FT. BOTH ACFT WERE IN THE CLOUDS AND NEVER SAW EACH OTHER. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 257747: ACR Y ON DEP FROM ATL RWY 26L. AS WE TURNED TO 285 DEGS AT THE MM WE WERE ALERTED BY A TCASII ADVISORY. ATL DEP ADVISED US OF TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK/3000 FT. TCASII ISSUED AN RA TO MONITOR VERT SPD. AS WE LEVELED AT 2500 FT MSL; THE TCASII RESOLUTION WAS A 2000 FPM DSCNT. I MADE A SHALLOW DSCNT UNTIL CLR OF THE CONFLICT. THE ENTIRE EVENT TOOK PLACE IN SECONDS; THE BOGEY WAS NOT SIGHTED.