 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Class B approach controller was unable to pick up the transponder of a single-engine aircraft and would not authority/authorized an 'inoperative transponder' deviation. The pilot of the aircraft then continued and transitioned the area below the class B floor, but entered into class D airspace prior to contacting the ATCT controller.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 325899 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199601 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : phx |
| State Reference | AZ |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 6500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : phx tower : ffz |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 500 |
| ASRS Report | 325899 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
While approaching phx class B airspace we were given a squawk code. Phx approach was having trouble picking our transponder up (as well as other aircraft). We were approaching the class B boundary when I asked for verification to enter class B. Approach said they could not let us in without a transponder squawk. I have, as well as other aircraft in the phx area, been able to enter class B when transponder difficulty has been a problem. The controller brought us up to the edge of class B then refused entry. We immediately deviated to the east and under the class B airspace. This put us in ffz class D airspace. I contacted ffz tower and asked for permission to enter ffz class D and received it. We were in class D prior to receiving permission. ATC should maintain a standard for transponder problems particularly since it could be their equipment. Later the same day we were picked up by phx approach and transitioned their area with no squawk problems.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: CLASS B APCH CTLR WAS UNABLE TO PICK UP THE XPONDER OF A SINGLE-ENG ACFT AND WOULD NOT AUTH AN 'INOP XPONDER' DEV. THE PLT OF THE ACFT THEN CONTINUED AND TRANSITIONED THE AREA BELOW THE CLASS B FLOOR, BUT ENTERED INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE PRIOR TO CONTACTING THE ATCT CTLR.
Narrative: WHILE APCHING PHX CLASS B AIRSPACE WE WERE GIVEN A SQUAWK CODE. PHX APCH WAS HAVING TROUBLE PICKING OUR XPONDER UP (AS WELL AS OTHER ACFT). WE WERE APCHING THE CLASS B BOUNDARY WHEN I ASKED FOR VERIFICATION TO ENTER CLASS B. APCH SAID THEY COULD NOT LET US IN WITHOUT A XPONDER SQUAWK. I HAVE, AS WELL AS OTHER ACFT IN THE PHX AREA, BEEN ABLE TO ENTER CLASS B WHEN XPONDER DIFFICULTY HAS BEEN A PROB. THE CTLR BROUGHT US UP TO THE EDGE OF CLASS B THEN REFUSED ENTRY. WE IMMEDIATELY DEVIATED TO THE E AND UNDER THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. THIS PUT US IN FFZ CLASS D AIRSPACE. I CONTACTED FFZ TWR AND ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO ENTER FFZ CLASS D AND RECEIVED IT. WE WERE IN CLASS D PRIOR TO RECEIVING PERMISSION. ATC SHOULD MAINTAIN A STANDARD FOR XPONDER PROBS PARTICULARLY SINCE IT COULD BE THEIR EQUIP. LATER THE SAME DAY WE WERE PICKED UP BY PHX APCH AND TRANSITIONED THEIR AREA WITH NO SQUAWK PROBS.
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.