A TRACON controller received an intrafac handoff on an IFR E120 with a 'C' symbol in the data block that would eventually be entering ZLA airspace. The controller thought that a handoff had already been accepted by the center because of the 'C' symbol and changed the aircraft to the center frequency. The aircraft entered center airspace without a handoff.

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Attributes
ACN	394028
Time
Date	199802
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sli
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla tracon : sna
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 10
ASRS Report	394028
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

I was working the newr position at the time of this incident. Due to a problem with the alphanumeric radar tracking system, the manr position was unable to complete an automated handoff to me on air carrier X, an E120. When manr coordinated with me, my display showed air carrier X on a 'C' position symbol. This normally indicates that ZLA has accepted an automated handoff from my sector. I subsequently assigned air carrier X 15000 ft, per SOP for aircraft entering ZLA sector 21 airspace. However, sector 21 had not actually accepted an automated handoff from me, and the aircraft entered sector 21's airspace unbeknownst to that controller. Although no other aircraft was involved, the potential for conflict with sector 21 traffic did exist. This event was caused by the ARTS system displaying a 'C' (center) position symbol, causing me to mistake the aircraft's handoff status. This equipment should be carefully evaluated before it contributes to a more serious incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A TRACON CTLR RECEIVED AN INTRAFAC HDOF ON AN IFR E120 WITH A 'C' SYMBOL IN THE DATA BLOCK THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE ENTERING ZLA AIRSPACE. THE CTLR THOUGHT THAT A HDOF HAD ALREADY BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE CTR BECAUSE OF THE 'C' SYMBOL AND CHANGED THE ACFT TO THE CTR FREQ. THE ACFT ENTERED CTR AIRSPACE WITHOUT A HDOF.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING THE NEWR POS AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. DUE TO A PROB WITH THE ALPHANUMERIC RADAR TRACKING SYS, THE MANR POS WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE AN AUTOMATED HDOF TO ME ON ACR X, AN E120. WHEN MANR COORDINATED WITH ME, MY DISPLAY SHOWED ACR X ON A 'C' POS SYMBOL. THIS NORMALLY INDICATES THAT ZLA HAS ACCEPTED AN AUTOMATED HDOF FROM MY SECTOR. I SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED ACR X 15000 FT, PER SOP FOR ACFT ENTERING ZLA SECTOR 21 AIRSPACE. HOWEVER, SECTOR 21 HAD NOT ACTUALLY ACCEPTED AN AUTOMATED HDOF FROM ME, AND THE ACFT ENTERED SECTOR 21'S AIRSPACE UNBEKNOWNST TO THAT CTLR. ALTHOUGH NO OTHER ACFT WAS INVOLVED, THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT WITH SECTOR 21 TFC DID EXIST. THIS EVENT WAS CAUSED BY THE ARTS SYS DISPLAYING A 'C' (CTR) POS SYMBOL, CAUSING ME TO MISTAKE THE ACFT'S HDOF STATUS. THIS EQUIP SHOULD BE CAREFULLY EVALUATED BEFORE IT CONTRIBUTES TO A MORE SERIOUS INCIDENT.

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.