A bell 407 entered hfd class D airspace without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	713691
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hfd.airport
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : y90.tracon tower : hfd.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Bell Helicopter Textron Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 1480 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	713691
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Event: en route; aircraft penetrated class D airspace at hfd (hartford-brainard; ct) without tower authority/authorized; and possibly penetrated windsor locks class C airspace without bradley approach control authority/authorized. Situation was caused by poor situational awareness. Summary: the helicopter was almost brand new; and the pilot had flown this particular aircraft for about 1 hour. The aircraft was equipped with very sophisticated navigation equipment; with which the PIC had very limited experience. Equipment was the chelton flight system flightlogic EFIS and a garmin GNS 530. Pilot was unfamiliar with functionality of these two excellent system; and the ability to display relevant information (airspace boundaries; in particular). The presence of this high performance avionics equipment; coupled with nice VFR WX produced a complacent attitude with this pilot; regarding his ability to track his exact position. Causal factors: 1) poor familiarity with functionality of sophisticated navigation equipment. 2) complacency due to presence of sophisticated navigation equipment. 3) complacency due to pleasant flying conditions (VFR/beautiful fall day). Corrective actions: 1) gained more experience with garmin GNS 530; will obtain simulator software. 2) gaining more experience with chelton flightlogic EFIS; hope to attend system training course. 3) stronger focus on precise navigation/maintaining situational awareness.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BELL 407 ENTERED HFD CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: EVENT: ENRTE; ACFT PENETRATED CLASS D AIRSPACE AT HFD (HARTFORD-BRAINARD; CT) WITHOUT TWR AUTH; AND POSSIBLY PENETRATED WINDSOR LOCKS CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT BRADLEY APCH CTL AUTH. SITUATION WAS CAUSED BY POOR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. SUMMARY: THE HELI WAS ALMOST BRAND NEW; AND THE PLT HAD FLOWN THIS PARTICULAR ACFT FOR ABOUT 1 HR. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH VERY SOPHISTICATED NAV EQUIP; WITH WHICH THE PIC HAD VERY LIMITED EXPERIENCE. EQUIP WAS THE CHELTON FLT SYS FLIGHTLOGIC EFIS AND A GARMIN GNS 530. PLT WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH FUNCTIONALITY OF THESE TWO EXCELLENT SYS; AND THE ABILITY TO DISPLAY RELEVANT INFO (AIRSPACE BOUNDARIES; IN PARTICULAR). THE PRESENCE OF THIS HIGH PERFORMANCE AVIONICS EQUIP; COUPLED WITH NICE VFR WX PRODUCED A COMPLACENT ATTITUDE WITH THIS PLT; REGARDING HIS ABILITY TO TRACK HIS EXACT POS. CAUSAL FACTORS: 1) POOR FAMILIARITY WITH FUNCTIONALITY OF SOPHISTICATED NAV EQUIP. 2) COMPLACENCY DUE TO PRESENCE OF SOPHISTICATED NAV EQUIP. 3) COMPLACENCY DUE TO PLEASANT FLYING CONDITIONS (VFR/BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY). CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: 1) GAINED MORE EXPERIENCE WITH GARMIN GNS 530; WILL OBTAIN SIMULATOR SOFTWARE. 2) GAINING MORE EXPERIENCE WITH CHELTON FLIGHTLOGIC EFIS; HOPE TO ATTEND SYS TRAINING COURSE. 3) STRONGER FOCUS ON PRECISE NAV/MAINTAINING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.