Narrative:

When on an IFR training flight plan approximately 2 hours earlier, ZSE notified me that ATC was not receiving the transponder. At that time I cancelled the IFR flight plan and did some practice IFR maneuvers. All of this was done with a safety pilot. At the time the IFR flight plan was closed, I was outside of the 30 mi limit where xponders were required. After finishing the IFR maneuvers, I monitored ATIS and reported to pae tower that I had the ATIS identify and that my transponder was not operating. I also asked that I have a clearance to land. The tower told me to report at the shoreline (i.e., 2 mi from the runway). At the shoreline, I reported to the tower. The tower cleared me to land following another aircraft. I landed west/O incident. It is unclear what should be done when there is a transponder failure (i.e., can the tower give a clearance, or does a waiver need to be obtained from another agency?). Although a prior pilot reported that the transponder was not operating properly, the transponder tested as operative prior to takeoff. Also, others flew the aircraft since the deficiency was reported west/O complaint. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: called reporter to determine his concern and to counsel. He stated he was unsure if he should have landed at an airport outside the 30 mi veil. This is his aircraft which he leases to an FBO. He has spent quite a bit to put transponder in good condition subsequent to the incident. Has had no further problem since.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS TRANSPONDER FAIL IN FLT.

Narrative: WHEN ON AN IFR TRNING FLT PLAN APPROX 2 HRS EARLIER, ZSE NOTIFIED ME THAT ATC WAS NOT RECEIVING THE XPONDER. AT THAT TIME I CANCELLED THE IFR FLT PLAN AND DID SOME PRACTICE IFR MANEUVERS. ALL OF THIS WAS DONE WITH A SAFETY PLT. AT THE TIME THE IFR FLT PLAN WAS CLOSED, I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE 30 MI LIMIT WHERE XPONDERS WERE REQUIRED. AFTER FINISHING THE IFR MANEUVERS, I MONITORED ATIS AND RPTED TO PAE TWR THAT I HAD THE ATIS IDENT AND THAT MY XPONDER WAS NOT OPERATING. I ALSO ASKED THAT I HAVE A CLRNC TO LAND. THE TWR TOLD ME TO RPT AT THE SHORELINE (I.E., 2 MI FROM THE RWY). AT THE SHORELINE, I RPTED TO THE TWR. THE TWR CLRED ME TO LAND FOLLOWING ANOTHER ACFT. I LANDED W/O INCIDENT. IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN THERE IS A XPONDER FAILURE (I.E., CAN THE TWR GIVE A CLRNC, OR DOES A WAIVER NEED TO BE OBTAINED FROM ANOTHER AGENCY?). ALTHOUGH A PRIOR PLT RPTED THAT THE XPONDER WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, THE XPONDER TESTED AS OPERATIVE PRIOR TO TKOF. ALSO, OTHERS FLEW THE ACFT SINCE THE DEFICIENCY WAS RPTED W/O COMPLAINT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: CALLED RPTR TO DETERMINE HIS CONCERN AND TO COUNSEL. HE STATED HE WAS UNSURE IF HE SHOULD HAVE LANDED AT AN ARPT OUTSIDE THE 30 MI VEIL. THIS IS HIS ACFT WHICH HE LEASES TO AN FBO. HE HAS SPENT QUITE A BIT TO PUT XPONDER IN GOOD CONDITION SUBSEQUENT TO THE INCIDENT. HAS HAD NO FURTHER PROB SINCE.

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.