Cessna 350
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 28.5; Flight Crew Total 917; Flight Crew Type 206.3
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Confusion; Time Pressure
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
On departure climb my Departure Procedure (DP) accidentally was cleared from the GPS/MFD. Having departed TEB in the past; I had always been given immediate vectors to ELVAE (which I did have still active in the GPS) so I was not immediately concerned. I was contacted by ATC to follow the DP which was no longer in my flight plan-they proceeded to give me a heading and altitude to which I immediately complied. I am still not quite sure how the DP was deleted; however; I have realized that I should also load the chart for the DP on my charts page of the MFD which would have given me immediate reference to the procedure.The event occurred in VMC; I was fully in control of the aircraft and at no time was I at risk. I fly into and out of Teterboro often and want to be certain this does not occur again. I have taken corrective procedural action to ensure it does not. On departure I will always load the DP into the flight plan; load the chart into the charts page; have the chart active on the iPad and have my heading bug and altitude indicator set on the appropriate numbers for the first phase of the DP. I have run this scenario through my head numerous times as it was disconcerting to err in such a busy flight environment.I plan on pursuing my CFI in the spring of 2013 and feel that although this was a failure on my part; much was gained and learned. I should have immediately asked ATC for vectors when I realized the flight plan was missing the DP and appreciate ATC's immediate vectors when they recognized my deviation. Obviously all of the above-mentioned back up systems will greatly improve safety and compliance.
The pilot of a Cessna 350 suffered a track deviation departing TEB when she either failed to load the departure procedure in the GPS/MFD or had inadvertently deleted it. ATC provided vectors to resolve the error.