A320
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 160; Flight Crew Total 14500; Flight Crew Type 3000
Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure; Workload
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
We were several hours delayed departing. As we taxied; we had a maintenance issue and had to work the problem. We were under the pressure of an EDCT time. After working the problem through Maintenance Control; we rushed through a before takeoff checklist and were cleared for takeoff. As we passed through 400 FT; the Captain called for heading select; I selected heading and saw that the heading was set at 021 which is way off of the RNAV SID heading. We then received an ECAM (master caution) that distracted me from the turn that seemed wrong. I fixed the problem quickly and then asked him why we were turning. Before we could ask for clarification; ATC began vectoring us back on course. It is unknown why that particular heading was set in the window. I had been so busy that I assumed that we had received the heading and I missed and the Captain indicated that he thought I had set it and that he had missed it. The flight continued without incident.
An A320 departed TPA with an incorrect initial heading selected; but neither pilot remembered setting it. ATC and crew both quickly identified the track deviation.