A PA34 PLT GETS A FLT ASSIST FROM A DAY APCH CTLR WHEN THE DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE BECOMES INOP. PLT GETS A NO GYROSCOPE APCH BACK INTO RID; IN.
Synopsis
A PA34 PLT GETS A FLT ASSIST FROM A DAY APCH CTLR WHEN THE DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE BECOMES INOP. PLT GETS A NO GYROSCOPE APCH BACK INTO RID; IN.
Narrative
DAY APCH WAS VECTORING OUR FLT DIRECT FROM DQN VOR TO THE RID ILS/DME RWY 24 APCH COURSE. WX WAS LOW WITH FOG AND LIGHT RAIN. ON DSCNT ON GS (INSIDE IAF JERMY); I WAS FOCUSED ON KEEPING ACFT ON LOC USING INTUITIVE L/R BANK. WHAT WAS REALLY OCCURRING; AND WHICH I DID NOT NOTICE SOON ENOUGH; WAS THAT THE DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE HAD FAILED. (THE CARD WOULD NOT TURN ACCORDINGLY WITH L/R BANK.) AT DECISION HT; I EXECUTED THE PUBLISHED MISSED -- CLB TO 2700 FT; THEN L TURN TO RID AND HOLD. AS I WAS CLBING L TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ABOUT 150 DEG HDG; THE DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE BEGAN TO SPIN RAPIDLY; STOP FOR A MOMENT; THEN SPIN AGAIN. NEEDLESS TO SAY; THE DESIRED TRACK DIRECT RID VOR WAS NOT DIRECT. AFTER A LOT OF HELP AND PATIENCE FROM DAY APCH; WE WERE ABLE TO GET ESTABLISHED BACK ON THE ILS AND LAND WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE WHOLE INCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD RECOGNIZED THE DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE PROB EARLIER AND RESORTED TO BASIC COMPASS FLYING SOONER. PREOCCUPATION WITH THE APCH (AND THOUGHT OF THE MISS) CAUSED BY ATTN TO TUNE-OUT DEFICIENCIES WITH MY INSTS. KUDOS TO DAY APCH CTLR FOR SAVING MY HIDE IN A TIMELY; EFFICIENT; AND FRIENDLY MANNER.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.