Small aircraft pilot allows passenger distraction, penetrates floor of TCA.

Attributes
ACN	218138
Time
Date	199208
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3800 msl bound upper : 4050
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 850 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	218138
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying an 'angel flight' mission (transport medical patients for treatment) from smx to smo. I was approaching the lax TCA on the extreme west. I had descended to 4000 ft MSL which is the base of the lax TCA on the west, approaching smo, about 12-15 mi out. I had intended to descend to 3800 until clear of terrain, then to 3500. Just as I approached the TCA boundary, the passenger began asking questions. I was distracted, and allowed my altitude to increase to about 4050 MSL, which was in the TCA. I quickly caught the mistake, and descended below the floor. Next time, I need to identify times that I don't want to be answering questions, and feel ok about telling the passenger to standby. Also, I need to keep a larger altitude margin below the TCA, although the TCA in that area seems unnecessarily low, and squeezes you between the floor of the TCA and high terrain. I think a proposal is being considered to raise the TCA floor to 5000 ft in that area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ALLOWS PAX DISTR, PENETRATES FLOOR OF TCA.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AN 'ANGEL FLT' MISSION (TRANSPORT MEDICAL PATIENTS FOR TREATMENT) FROM SMX TO SMO. I WAS APCHING THE LAX TCA ON THE EXTREME W. I HAD DSNDED TO 4000 FT MSL WHICH IS THE BASE OF THE LAX TCA ON THE W, APCHING SMO, ABOUT 12-15 MI OUT. I HAD INTENDED TO DSND TO 3800 UNTIL CLR OF TERRAIN, THEN TO 3500. JUST AS I APCHED THE TCA BOUNDARY, THE PAX BEGAN ASKING QUESTIONS. I WAS DISTRACTED, AND ALLOWED MY ALT TO INCREASE TO ABOUT 4050 MSL, WHICH WAS IN THE TCA. I QUICKLY CAUGHT THE MISTAKE, AND DSNDED BELOW THE FLOOR. NEXT TIME, I NEED TO IDENT TIMES THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS, AND FEEL OK ABOUT TELLING THE PAX TO STANDBY. ALSO, I NEED TO KEEP A LARGER ALT MARGIN BELOW THE TCA, ALTHOUGH THE TCA IN THAT AREA SEEMS UNNECESSARILY LOW, AND SQUEEZES YOU BTWN THE FLOOR OF THE TCA AND HIGH TERRAIN. I THINK A PROPOSAL IS BEING CONSIDERED TO RAISE THE TCA FLOOR TO 5000 FT IN THAT AREA.

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.