VFR operation above 10000' without mode C capability.

Attributes
ACN	179899
Time
Date	199105
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : igm
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10500 msl bound upper : 12500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger observation : observer other personnel other
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 8800 flight time type : 43
ASRS Report	179899
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Eastbound ferry/pilot fam flight to ny was turned around at gallup, NM, because of degenerating aircraft conditions and WX forecast to be hot and humid with thunderstorms throughout the midwest. Cockpit ventilation was inadequate, fuel quantity indications had become sporadic, vacuum had fallen to 2.2 psi, and the intercom unusable. Although deliberate IFR flight was not planned, some simulated drill was considered valuable to prepare for any future inadvertent '180' condition. Especially so in this unstable, pitch and roll sensitive platform. Low vacuum rendered the gyros inoperative and eliminated any chance of viable hooded practice en route. Reported ground temperature was 44 degrees F when we departed gallup at am:40 MST, with the owner in the left seat. We were level at 8500' for 40 mins as we observed oil temperature climb. Propeller governor control, which had evidently become temperature sensitive, was lost as the oil temperature climbed through 180 degrees F. To prevent a runway propeller, we reduced mp, loaded the propeller and cruise climbed to a colder 10500'. After about an hour, we tried 12500', climbing at about 100 FPM. After about 20 mins at 12500', we started descent into kingman, az. In our anxiety over the propeller, we overlooked the mode C altitude reporting requirement above 1000', but transponder code 1200 was set and operating. We probably had an unrpted deferred emergency! Aircraft had been stored outside, inactive for 1 yr at santa monica.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR OPERATION ABOVE 10000' WITHOUT MODE C CAPABILITY.

Narrative: EBND FERRY/PLT FAM FLT TO NY WAS TURNED AROUND AT GALLUP, NM, BECAUSE OF DEGENERATING ACFT CONDITIONS AND WX FORECAST TO BE HOT AND HUMID WITH TSTMS THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST. COCKPIT VENTILATION WAS INADEQUATE, FUEL QUANTITY INDICATIONS HAD BECOME SPORADIC, VACUUM HAD FALLEN TO 2.2 PSI, AND THE INTERCOM UNUSABLE. ALTHOUGH DELIBERATE IFR FLT WAS NOT PLANNED, SOME SIMULATED DRILL WAS CONSIDERED VALUABLE TO PREPARE FOR ANY FUTURE INADVERTENT '180' CONDITION. ESPECIALLY SO IN THIS UNSTABLE, PITCH AND ROLL SENSITIVE PLATFORM. LOW VACUUM RENDERED THE GYROS INOP AND ELIMINATED ANY CHANCE OF VIABLE HOODED PRACTICE ENRTE. RPTED GND TEMP WAS 44 DEGS F WHEN WE DEPARTED GALLUP AT AM:40 MST, WITH THE OWNER IN THE LEFT SEAT. WE WERE LEVEL AT 8500' FOR 40 MINS AS WE OBSERVED OIL TEMP CLB. PROP GOVERNOR CTL, WHICH HAD EVIDENTLY BECOME TEMP SENSITIVE, WAS LOST AS THE OIL TEMP CLBED THROUGH 180 DEGS F. TO PREVENT A RWY PROP, WE REDUCED MP, LOADED THE PROP AND CRUISE CLBED TO A COLDER 10500'. AFTER ABOUT AN HR, WE TRIED 12500', CLBING AT ABOUT 100 FPM. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINS AT 12500', WE STARTED DSNT INTO KINGMAN, AZ. IN OUR ANXIETY OVER THE PROP, WE OVERLOOKED THE MODE C ALT RPTING REQUIREMENT ABOVE 1000', BUT XPONDER CODE 1200 WAS SET AND OPERATING. WE PROBABLY HAD AN UNRPTED DEFERRED EMER! ACFT HAD BEEN STORED OUTSIDE, INACTIVE FOR 1 YR AT SANTA MONICA.

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.