Pilot of an small aircraft sel reports that he may have penetrated a TCA by mistake.

Attributes
ACN	303618
Time
Date	199504
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	303618
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Pilot was ferrying a single engine light aircraft VFR. While attempting to obtain radio contact and subsequent radar vector to small airport outside atl class B, pilot realized he had radio malfunction. Pilot attempted to rectify radio problem and believes he may have inadvertently entered the bottom northeast edge of the atl class B. Upon recognition of his position via landmarks pilot immediately executed a turn out of possible class B airspace and concurrently commenced a descent to ensure being below the class B edge/bottom. Pilot believes that had he not tried to correct the equipment malfunction and simply navigated first, the situation would not have occurred. Certainly a backup communication system in the aircraft is another way to avoid this kind of situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL RPTS THAT HE MAY HAVE PENETRATED A TCA BY MISTAKE.

Narrative: PLT WAS FERRYING A SINGLE ENG LIGHT ACFT VFR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN RADIO CONTACT AND SUBSEQUENT RADAR VECTOR TO SMALL ARPT OUTSIDE ATL CLASS B, PLT REALIZED HE HAD RADIO MALFUNCTION. PLT ATTEMPTED TO RECTIFY RADIO PROB AND BELIEVES HE MAY HAVE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED THE BOTTOM NE EDGE OF THE ATL CLASS B. UPON RECOGNITION OF HIS POS VIA LANDMARKS PLT IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED A TURN OUT OF POSSIBLE CLASS B AIRSPACE AND CONCURRENTLY COMMENCED A DSCNT TO ENSURE BEING BELOW THE CLASS B EDGE/BOTTOM. PLT BELIEVES THAT HAD HE NOT TRIED TO CORRECT THE EQUIP MALFUNCTION AND SIMPLY NAVIGATED FIRST, THE SIT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. CERTAINLY A BACKUP COM SYS IN THE ACFT IS ANOTHER WAY TO AVOID THIS KIND OF SIT.

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.