GA small aircraft failed to activate mode C while flying under the bos TCA.

Attributes
ACN	116608
Time
Date	198907
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bed
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 14 flight time total : 604 flight time type : 342
ASRS Report	116608
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed hanscom en route portland, me, via pease VOR. Using runway 11, normal left turn headed in approximately correct direction. Aimed course between beverly and lawrence air traffic area's. Continued north VFR with no ATC contact. Approximately 30 min into the flight, I noticed that I had not set my transponder to transmitting mode C. Did so immediately and completed the flight normally. This was my second flight with the recently installed blind encoder, and I now realize a need to modify my normal procedures. 1) I had turned on the transponder as always, but did not set to mode C. I have not yet formed the habit. I am modifying my checklists to specifically turn on mode C. 2) as a VFR for pleasure only pilot, I find I have developed a reluctance to talk to boston approach and get into the ATC system when I only intend casual flying. Had I spoken to boston as I exited the hanscom air traffic area, I would have known immediately that I was not reporting mode C. I will now contact boston shortly after takeoff for a mode C check on all but the shortest flts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA FAILED TO ACTIVATE MODE C WHILE FLYING UNDER THE BOS TCA.

Narrative: DEPARTED HANSCOM ENRTE PORTLAND, ME, VIA PEASE VOR. USING RWY 11, NORMAL LEFT TURN HEADED IN APPROX CORRECT DIRECTION. AIMED COURSE BETWEEN BEVERLY AND LAWRENCE ATA'S. CONTINUED N VFR WITH NO ATC CONTACT. APPROX 30 MIN INTO THE FLT, I NOTICED THAT I HAD NOT SET MY XPONDER TO XMITTING MODE C. DID SO IMMEDIATELY AND COMPLETED THE FLT NORMALLY. THIS WAS MY SECOND FLT WITH THE RECENTLY INSTALLED BLIND ENCODER, AND I NOW REALIZE A NEED TO MODIFY MY NORMAL PROCS. 1) I HAD TURNED ON THE XPONDER AS ALWAYS, BUT DID NOT SET TO MODE C. I HAVE NOT YET FORMED THE HABIT. I AM MODIFYING MY CHECKLISTS TO SPECIFICALLY TURN ON MODE C. 2) AS A VFR FOR PLEASURE ONLY PLT, I FIND I HAVE DEVELOPED A RELUCTANCE TO TALK TO BOSTON APCH AND GET INTO THE ATC SYSTEM WHEN I ONLY INTEND CASUAL FLYING. HAD I SPOKEN TO BOSTON AS I EXITED THE HANSCOM ATA, I WOULD HAVE KNOWN IMMEDIATELY THAT I WAS NOT REPORTING MODE C. I WILL NOW CONTACT BOSTON SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FOR A MODE C CHECK ON ALL BUT THE SHORTEST FLTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.