GA small aircraft experiences malfunctioning altitude encoder on transponder, gets queried by ATC. On same flight, but unrelated, airsick passenger disposes of sick-sack out the window.

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Attributes
ACN	145927
Time
Date	199005
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : smo airport : vny
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1200 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bur tower : vny
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	145927
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was flying below the lax TCA. When I returned to vny, I was advised that bur approach was reading my encoder output as 12000'--my altitude was 1200'. A few days later I checked the readout with bur approach and again there was a discrepancy. The aircraft was taken to the radio shop for repair. The encoder is now working correctly. Also, on this flight, my passenger got sick. It was smooth air and vanilla turns. Before I knew what he was doing, they threw the sick-sack over the side. There was no intent to harm, but it may have been unpleasant on the ground!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA EXPERIENCES MALFUNCTIONING ALT ENCODER ON TRANSPONDER, GETS QUERIED BY ATC. ON SAME FLT, BUT UNRELATED, AIRSICK PASSENGER DISPOSES OF SICK-SACK OUT THE WINDOW.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING BELOW THE LAX TCA. WHEN I RETURNED TO VNY, I WAS ADVISED THAT BUR APCH WAS READING MY ENCODER OUTPUT AS 12000'--MY ALT WAS 1200'. A FEW DAYS LATER I CHKED THE READOUT WITH BUR APCH AND AGAIN THERE WAS A DISCREPANCY. THE ACFT WAS TAKEN TO THE RADIO SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE ENCODER IS NOW WORKING CORRECTLY. ALSO, ON THIS FLT, MY PAX GOT SICK. IT WAS SMOOTH AIR AND VANILLA TURNS. BEFORE I KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING, THEY THREW THE SICK-SACK OVER THE SIDE. THERE WAS NO INTENT TO HARM, BUT IT MAY HAVE BEEN UNPLEASANT ON THE GND!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.