Pilot operates within TCA veil with moode C feature of transponder inoperative.

Attributes
ACN	126187
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bfi
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sea
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 13500 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	126187
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I recently purchased a light aircraft, checked to see whether mode C was installed (it was) and proceeded to make 2 flts through sea TCA veil before I realized mode C inoperative. I checked further and found that the recently installed mode C wasn't accompanied with the required transponder check, thus making aircraft unairworthy. I had assumed the installation would have included this check, but hadn't taken time to carefully review aircraft log book about this. I inadvertently and unintentionally violated the far's because of my lack of patience to thoroughly review aircraft history. I will be more patient in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OPERATES WITHIN TCA VEIL WITH MOODE C FEATURE OF TRANSPONDER INOPERATIVE.

Narrative: I RECENTLY PURCHASED A LIGHT ACFT, CHKED TO SEE WHETHER MODE C WAS INSTALLED (IT WAS) AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE 2 FLTS THROUGH SEA TCA VEIL BEFORE I REALIZED MODE C INOP. I CHKED FURTHER AND FOUND THAT THE RECENTLY INSTALLED MODE C WASN'T ACCOMPANIED WITH THE REQUIRED XPONDER CHK, THUS MAKING ACFT UNAIRWORTHY. I HAD ASSUMED THE INSTALLATION WOULD HAVE INCLUDED THIS CHK, BUT HADN'T TAKEN TIME TO CAREFULLY REVIEW ACFT LOG BOOK ABOUT THIS. I INADVERTENTLY AND UNINTENTIONALLY VIOLATED THE FAR'S BECAUSE OF MY LACK OF PATIENCE TO THOROUGHLY REVIEW ACFT HISTORY. I WILL BE MORE PATIENT IN THE FUTURE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.