Citation Excel (C560XL)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 6000; Flight Crew Type 1500
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
Cincinnati clearance gave us a clearance of radar vectors V128 YRK RHODE then as filed. The FMS was accidentally programmed V128 YRK ROHDE which is a fix close to YRK; but not the fix filed. ATC noticed we were on a heading not coincident to the right fix. We were queried which fix we were headed to and replied ROHDE. Both fixes sound the same; which led to further confusion. FMS programming should be checked and rechecked by the crewmembers. Any questions or confusion should be addressed before takeoff.
CE560 Captain reports a track deviation departing CVG due to confusion over a similar sounding fix names. The clearance was V128 YRK RHODE as filed; but ROHDE was entered in the FMC instead of RHODE. ATC detects the error.