An ELT was inadvertently activated.

Attributes
ACN	272741
Time
Date	199405
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : parked other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 13750
ASRS Report	272741
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While changing the ELT battery, I inadvertently activated it to the on position. I did not turn on my radio to see if it was broadcasting. After about 3 hours, a gentleman from search and rescue came by to turn it off.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ELT WAS INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED.

Narrative: WHILE CHANGING THE ELT BATTERY, I INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATED IT TO THE ON POS. I DID NOT TURN ON MY RADIO TO SEE IF IT WAS BROADCASTING. AFTER ABOUT 3 HRS, A GENTLEMAN FROM SEARCH AND RESCUE CAME BY TO TURN IT OFF.

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.