Approach controller accused atx aircraft of entering the TCA, after discussion retracted accusation.

Attributes
ACN	126626
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : crl airport : det
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 7200 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	126626
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The problem arose because the ATC controller did not know where the correct floor of the detroit TCA is. He thought it was 3000' in the area I was flying through where the TCA floor is actually at 4000'. I had departed det VFR as flight. I departed runway 33, took up a 300 degree heading and proceeded to climb out. As I generally do, I dialed in the ILS DME at dtw (110.7) to monitor my position in relationship to the TCA. Within a couple of minutes det tower broadcast in the blind on tower frequency, asking whether I was still on. I answered them and they advised me that dtw ATC wanted to talk to me on 118.95 because I had entered their TCA. I contacted dtw ATC and after having him verify that I was where I said I was and after he found a TCA chart, he verified that I had not been in the dtw TCA. He also verified that the case was closed. This controller felt it was unsafe for the floor of the TCA to be at 4000' since ATC used an approach corridor for runways 21 at an altitude of less than 4000'. My suggestion is that ATC immediately stop this procedure and keep their IFR traffic up in the TCA as per the published apches for 21L and 21R. The floor is needed at 4000' due to a group of antennas in the area called the 'antenna farm'.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR ACCUSED ATX ACFT OF ENTERING THE TCA, AFTER DISCUSSION RETRACTED ACCUSATION.

Narrative: THE PROBLEM AROSE BECAUSE THE ATC CTLR DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE CORRECT FLOOR OF THE DETROIT TCA IS. HE THOUGHT IT WAS 3000' IN THE AREA I WAS FLYING THROUGH WHERE THE TCA FLOOR IS ACTUALLY AT 4000'. I HAD DEPARTED DET VFR AS FLT. I DEPARTED RWY 33, TOOK UP A 300 DEG HDG AND PROCEEDED TO CLIMB OUT. AS I GENERALLY DO, I DIALED IN THE ILS DME AT DTW (110.7) TO MONITOR MY POSITION IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE TCA. WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES DET TWR BROADCAST IN THE BLIND ON TWR FREQ, ASKING WHETHER I WAS STILL ON. I ANSWERED THEM AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT DTW ATC WANTED TO TALK TO ME ON 118.95 BECAUSE I HAD ENTERED THEIR TCA. I CONTACTED DTW ATC AND AFTER HAVING HIM VERIFY THAT I WAS WHERE I SAID I WAS AND AFTER HE FOUND A TCA CHART, HE VERIFIED THAT I HAD NOT BEEN IN THE DTW TCA. HE ALSO VERIFIED THAT THE CASE WAS CLOSED. THIS CTLR FELT IT WAS UNSAFE FOR THE FLOOR OF THE TCA TO BE AT 4000' SINCE ATC USED AN APCH CORRIDOR FOR RWYS 21 AT AN ALT OF LESS THAN 4000'. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT ATC IMMEDIATELY STOP THIS PROC AND KEEP THEIR IFR TFC UP IN THE TCA AS PER THE PUBLISHED APCHES FOR 21L AND 21R. THE FLOOR IS NEEDED AT 4000' DUE TO A GROUP OF ANTENNAS IN THE AREA CALLED THE 'ANTENNA FARM'.

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.