Small aircraft pilot flew into right 2901 when trying to troubleshoot a GPS equipment anomaly.

Attributes
ACN	579290
Time
Date	200304
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : lal.vortac
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc tracon : tpa.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 34.5 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 224.6
ASRS Report	579290
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	aircraft : automation overrode flight crew flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : overrode automation flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Violated restr area airspace 42901A and B on IFR flight plan from pilot country (X05) to fxe. Taking off from X05 in VFR conditions, GPS and autoplt programmed to the flight plan, proceeded directly to lal VOR. En route, picked up my clearance from tampa, at lal. GPS sequenced to next waypoint (sign). A short time later, I noticed the GPS was not holding the desired track, but was off course 20 degrees. At this time, tampa handed me off to ZMA on 127.2. I continued to try to see why GPS information was not the same as the chart. While this was all absorbing my efforts, I noticed the circuit breaker had popped on 'not communication.' at approximately the same time with a sectional chart, I determined that by the course we flew, we had entered the restr area. At this time, sebring airport was at our 2 O'clock position. I immediately turned off the autoplt and GPS, and hand-flew it towards sebring. Also, I recontacted ZMA, who informed me I had flown through R2901, and that, upon landing, I should contact ZMA on the telephone.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FLEW INTO R 2901 WHEN TRYING TO TROUBLESHOOT A GPS EQUIP ANOMALY.

Narrative: VIOLATED RESTR AREA AIRSPACE 42901A AND B ON IFR FLT PLAN FROM PLT COUNTRY (X05) TO FXE. TAKING OFF FROM X05 IN VFR CONDITIONS, GPS AND AUTOPLT PROGRAMMED TO THE FLT PLAN, PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO LAL VOR. ENRTE, PICKED UP MY CLRNC FROM TAMPA, AT LAL. GPS SEQUENCED TO NEXT WAYPOINT (SIGN). A SHORT TIME LATER, I NOTICED THE GPS WAS NOT HOLDING THE DESIRED TRACK, BUT WAS OFF COURSE 20 DEGS. AT THIS TIME, TAMPA HANDED ME OFF TO ZMA ON 127.2. I CONTINUED TO TRY TO SEE WHY GPS INFO WAS NOT THE SAME AS THE CHART. WHILE THIS WAS ALL ABSORBING MY EFFORTS, I NOTICED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD POPPED ON 'NOT COM.' AT APPROX THE SAME TIME WITH A SECTIONAL CHART, I DETERMINED THAT BY THE COURSE WE FLEW, WE HAD ENTERED THE RESTR AREA. AT THIS TIME, SEBRING ARPT WAS AT OUR 2 O'CLOCK POS. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT AND GPS, AND HAND-FLEW IT TOWARDS SEBRING. ALSO, I RECONTACTED ZMA, WHO INFORMED ME I HAD FLOWN THROUGH R2901, AND THAT, UPON LNDG, I SHOULD CONTACT ZMA ON THE TELEPHONE.

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.