The compass in our Archer suddenly began reading 30 degrees off. A lot of
investigation eventually revealed that a small magnet that someone had
riveted by means of a thin aluminum bracket to the center windshield bow in
front of the compass, presumably to get it to read correctly, had become
dislodged. Because of "springback" in the mounting plate, it was not
possible to reposition it without first drilling out the rivet, so it was
taped back in place. We will fix it properly when we get a chance, but for
now, the small piece of duct tape is working fine.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)

I don't have to like Bush and Cheney (Or Kerry, for that matter) to love
America

"Jim" wrote in message
...
The wet compass in my Cessna 150 has suddenly decided to indicate way off.
I took it off the dash mount and it reads nearly correctly when moved
about
12" away from the instrument panel, and even better when out in the open
by
itself. I got another wet compass from a friend, and as I moved it near
the
instrument panel got the same effects. It's at least 40 degrees off and
in
some places like when held over the firewall its over 90 degress off.
Nothing else has been done to the plane recently. Is is possible that
something in the plane that has become magnetized and is affecting the
compass ? Is there anything that can be done ? I pulled the nav-com out
of
the panel and it didn't seem to make any difference. All this is
happening
when the master switch is on or off, doesn't make any difference.