PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80; Flight Crew Total 950; Flight Crew Type 75
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors
I was flying a friend in the late evening on an IFR flight plan. During my handoff to Fayetteville I became overly focused on getting my self setup for the next radio change that I expected and I became slightly disoriented. I lost my heading control by 45-50 degrees. I was experiencing a slight operator induced malfunction in the communication equipment of the aircraft that was quickly resolved and I was overly focused on that issue and my heading suffered. I quickly turned back to re intercept my course and was able to make it to my destination safely. As a low IFR time IFR pilot I was very green to the flight environment. I am currently taking it upon myself to undergo recurrent training to better myself in the IFR environment.
PA28 pilot on an IFR flight plan reports being distracted by a radio problem and allowing his heading to drift off course by 45-50 degrees before correcting.