BE55 single pilot with a garmin 530 inadvertently entered class B airspace; citing the airspace boun...

Narrative:

I took off to do some training in VFR conditions. The ceiling and visibility were no problem. However; I have a garmin 530 with xm satellite weather; which had large areas of light rain (depicted as solid green) throughout the dc metro area. There was no rain in-flight and no rain had been falling on the ground before takeoff and no rain fell on me at any time during that day. Yet; my garmin screen had many areas of the light green. I knew I was getting close to the washington class B airspace but its outline was not depicted on my screen in my area due to the rain depiction using the same color of the class B lines. Using other references; I suddenly realized that I actually was in the washington class B airspace. I turned immediately and exited. I think I was in it for a minute or two. I highly recommend that the FAA work with garmin to resolve this issue. Garmin GPS displays should not be certified to display class B airspace in the exact same color that is used for rain. Class B airspace cannot be seen on a garmin 530 that is equipped with xm weather if rain is in that area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE55 single pilot with a Garmin 530 inadvertently entered Class B airspace; citing the airspace boundaries depicted in the same color as the simultaneously displayed rain caused the oversight.

Narrative: I took off to do some training in VFR conditions. The ceiling and visibility were no problem. However; I have a Garmin 530 with XM satellite weather; which had large areas of light rain (depicted as solid green) throughout the DC metro area. There was no rain in-flight and no rain had been falling on the ground before takeoff and no rain fell on me at any time during that day. Yet; my Garmin screen had many areas of the light green. I knew I was getting close to the Washington Class B airspace but its outline was not depicted on my screen in my area due to the rain depiction using the same color of the Class B lines. Using other references; I suddenly realized that I actually was in the Washington Class B airspace. I turned immediately and exited. I think I was in it for a minute or two. I highly recommend that the FAA work with Garmin to resolve this issue. Garmin GPS displays should NOT be certified to display Class B airspace in the EXACT SAME color that is used for rain. Class B airspace cannot be seen on a Garmin 530 that is equipped with XM weather if rain is in that area.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	856214
Time
Date	200910
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZDC.ARTCC
State Reference	VA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	GPS & Other Satellite Navigation
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 9757 Flight Crew Type 162

BE55 single pilot with a garmin 530 inadvertently entered class B airspace; citing the airspace boundaries depicted in the same color as the simultaneously displayed rain caused the oversight.