Narrative:

The transgression occurred as we flew eastbound along the shoreline of lake erie preparing to return to hopkins. The arrival was similar to any VFR arrival from the west. Copy ATIS and contact approach near the 'avon stacks' (an inbound reporting point) for a clearance to enter the TCA. I told the student to contact approach and tell them the usual where we are, who we are, what we want to do. Since he had the 'foggles' on I told him to say we're 5 southwest of the stacks. My eyes then glanced at the altimeter. It hit me immediately (3100 MSL) that I had 'busted' the TCA. I then took the controls, reduced power and descended to 2500 MSL (the altitude I usually enter under the TCA before calling approach over the avon stacks). The flight ended normally.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CFI ENTERS TCA WITHOUT CLRNC WHILE INVOLVED IN TRAINING.

Narrative: THE TRANSGRESSION OCCURRED AS WE FLEW EBND ALONG THE SHORELINE OF LAKE ERIE PREPARING TO RETURN TO HOPKINS. THE ARRIVAL WAS SIMILAR TO ANY VFR ARRIVAL FROM THE WEST. COPY ATIS AND CONTACT APCH NEAR THE 'AVON STACKS' (AN INBND REPORTING POINT) FOR A CLRNC TO ENTER THE TCA. I TOLD THE STUDENT TO CONTACT APCH AND TELL THEM THE USUAL WHERE WE ARE, WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE WANT TO DO. SINCE HE HAD THE 'FOGGLES' ON I TOLD HIM TO SAY WE'RE 5 SW OF THE STACKS. MY EYES THEN GLANCED AT THE ALTIMETER. IT HIT ME IMMEDIATELY (3100 MSL) THAT I HAD 'BUSTED' THE TCA. I THEN TOOK THE CONTROLS, REDUCED POWER AND DESCENDED TO 2500 MSL (THE ALT I USUALLY ENTER UNDER THE TCA BEFORE CALLING APCH OVER THE AVON STACKS). THE FLT ENDED NORMALLY.

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.