C210 pilot had ARTCC radar controller report loss of radar contact and called out search and rescue.

Attributes
ACN	526473
Time
Date	200110
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : hez.vor
State Reference	MS
Altitude	msl single value : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc artcc : zhu.artcc artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	526473
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

I was flying to 9m2 at 7500 ft MSL in contact with ZHU. I told ZHU I was descending out of 7500 ft for lower. They said 'pilot's discretion, maintain VFR.' they said 'we will lose radar contact for further flight following, you can contact ZME.' I said 'no we will go VFR from here.' they said 'cessna, maintain VFR, squawk 1200, frequency change approved.' I said 'ok, VFR 1200 and frequency approved.' well, I landed then took off from 9m2 and flew to hez to eat a burger. About 30 mins later, I got a call from ZME saying they lost me on radar, that I needed to call ZHU. They said search and rescue was out for me. They called the FAA, parents and owner of the airplane and said that they lost me. Everyone was worried and later mad at me, but I called the center's supervisor and he had no excuse for what happened except for the fact ZHU handed my radar to ZME, but did not tell them anything. I am not mad, just aggravated at what happened and not having center write a letter to anyone saying it was their fault. They said I might not have closed a flight plan -- well, I did not file for a VFR or IFR plan. I strictly had flight following, so I cannot understand what happened. I do not see how any of the conversation was confusing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C210 PLT HAD ARTCC RADAR CTLR RPT LOSS OF RADAR CONTACT AND CALLED OUT SEARCH AND RESCUE.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING TO 9M2 AT 7500 FT MSL IN CONTACT WITH ZHU. I TOLD ZHU I WAS DSNDING OUT OF 7500 FT FOR LOWER. THEY SAID 'PLT'S DISCRETION, MAINTAIN VFR.' THEY SAID 'WE WILL LOSE RADAR CONTACT FOR FURTHER FLT FOLLOWING, YOU CAN CONTACT ZME.' I SAID 'NO WE WILL GO VFR FROM HERE.' THEY SAID 'CESSNA, MAINTAIN VFR, SQUAWK 1200, FREQ CHANGE APPROVED.' I SAID 'OK, VFR 1200 AND FREQ APPROVED.' WELL, I LANDED THEN TOOK OFF FROM 9M2 AND FLEW TO HEZ TO EAT A BURGER. ABOUT 30 MINS LATER, I GOT A CALL FROM ZME SAYING THEY LOST ME ON RADAR, THAT I NEEDED TO CALL ZHU. THEY SAID SEARCH AND RESCUE WAS OUT FOR ME. THEY CALLED THE FAA, PARENTS AND OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE AND SAID THAT THEY LOST ME. EVERYONE WAS WORRIED AND LATER MAD AT ME, BUT I CALLED THE CTR'S SUPVR AND HE HAD NO EXCUSE FOR WHAT HAPPENED EXCEPT FOR THE FACT ZHU HANDED MY RADAR TO ZME, BUT DID NOT TELL THEM ANYTHING. I AM NOT MAD, JUST AGGRAVATED AT WHAT HAPPENED AND NOT HAVING CTR WRITE A LETTER TO ANYONE SAYING IT WAS THEIR FAULT. THEY SAID I MIGHT NOT HAVE CLOSED A FLT PLAN -- WELL, I DID NOT FILE FOR A VFR OR IFR PLAN. I STRICTLY HAD FLT FOLLOWING, SO I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. I DO NOT SEE HOW ANY OF THE CONVERSATION WAS CONFUSING.

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.