An small aircraft pilot violated class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	530772
Time
Date	200111
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : d01.tracon
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	530772
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	controller : approach observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a flight beginning at dusk from cos VFR, I was radar vectored substantially east of a direct line from cos which would have avoided the class B airspace. Since I was vectored east, I contacted denver approach and the controller gave me a discreet squawk code. Just prior to obtaining clearance to enter class B airspace, I experienced an electrical failure in the airplane. My backup flashlight was in my flight pack in the baggage compartment and I was therefore unable to reach it myself and it took some moments with the assistance of the passenger to find it and pass it to me. By the time I got the flashlight and was again able to determine my position relative to class B airspace, the GPS indicated that I was right on the line of the limit of class B airspace. Realizing this, I immediately turned to avoid a possible incursion or further incursion if there was one into class B airspace. Immediately after making the turn, I was given clearance by denver approach to proceed direct on course through class B airspace. I was never informed of any incursion. The airplane is currently in the shop for electrical repairs and a thorough chkout. I have since positioned a prominent mount for the backup flashlight, in case of electrical failure, at the pilot's fingertips.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT VIOLATED CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ON A FLT BEGINNING AT DUSK FROM COS VFR, I WAS RADAR VECTORED SUBSTANTIALLY E OF A DIRECT LINE FROM COS WHICH WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. SINCE I WAS VECTORED E, I CONTACTED DENVER APCH AND THE CTLR GAVE ME A DISCREET SQUAWK CODE. JUST PRIOR TO OBTAINING CLRNC TO ENTER CLASS B AIRSPACE, I EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE AIRPLANE. MY BACKUP FLASHLIGHT WAS IN MY FLT PACK IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT AND I WAS THEREFORE UNABLE TO REACH IT MYSELF AND IT TOOK SOME MOMENTS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE PAX TO FIND IT AND PASS IT TO ME. BY THE TIME I GOT THE FLASHLIGHT AND WAS AGAIN ABLE TO DETERMINE MY POS RELATIVE TO CLASS B AIRSPACE, THE GPS INDICATED THAT I WAS RIGHT ON THE LINE OF THE LIMIT OF CLASS B AIRSPACE. REALIZING THIS, I IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO AVOID A POSSIBLE INCURSION OR FURTHER INCURSION IF THERE WAS ONE INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER MAKING THE TURN, I WAS GIVEN CLRNC BY DENVER APCH TO PROCEED DIRECT ON COURSE THROUGH CLASS B AIRSPACE. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF ANY INCURSION. THE AIRPLANE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR ELECTRICAL REPAIRS AND A THOROUGH CHKOUT. I HAVE SINCE POSITIONED A PROMINENT MOUNT FOR THE BACKUP FLASHLIGHT, IN CASE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE, AT THE PLT'S FINGERTIPS.

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.