Commercial Fixed Wing
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 18
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Staffing; Procedure; Human Factors
Aircraft X was assigned a 20 [degree left] L turn for sequence by me; but I failed to note that in his data block which is contrary to what I normally do. I was quite busy with fairly complex traffic. I needed a d-side but there wasn't one available. I hadn't asked for one since A. I was too busy to even ask B. I planned to ask for one as soon as someone returned from break and C. It seemed to me that it should have been perfectly obvious to the supervisor that the sector needed a d-side so one should have been assigned without my having to ask for one. But mostly it's my responsibility because I did not ask for a d-side and I should have regardless of my opinion about those three things. I shipped the plane to DFW-Approach but never told him to resume the arrival. His heading had him flying almost directly on the arrival so it hadn't 'looked wrong' to me; and since I failed to note it in the data block; I had nothing but my memory to rely on. When the aircraft was approximately 8-10 miles east of course; very nearly at sector 53's boundary; I noticed he hadn't turned so I called 53 to point him out but just as I punched into that sector; that controller was answering a call from D10 who was calling to point that aircraft out so I hung up. At that point in time; I believed that either D10 had assigned the aircraft the heading; making it their responsibility for the point out; or the pilot had failed to follow the arrival; making it a pilot deviation. I had been so busy that I had absolutely no recollection that I'd ever turned the plane; and I still don't remember doing it but I certainly believe my supervisor when he tells me that's exactly what I did. I should have asked for a d-side. I was just too busy to be there with that volume and complexity by myself.
ZFW Controller reported of not issuing an aircraft 'resume the arrival' clearance. The aircraft had been left on a heading and the Controller didn't realize it until later. Controller tried to point out aircraft and advise sector; but someone else appeared to be talking to the other Controller about the aircraft in question. Controller did not issue correct instructions to aircraft leading to a LOA and airspace violation.