GA pilot complains of poor handling by bwi approach in refusing to handoff to adjacent ATC facility ...

Attributes
ACN	136987
Time
Date	199002
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other ground : preflight
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	136987
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

On feb/sun/90 I requested a clearance from baltimore-washington (bwi) clearance delivery to bedford (hanscom airport), ma, VFR with an initial altitude of 4500'. My intention was to intercept V268 to kenton (eno) VORTAC then along V16 to my destination. On departing runway 22 I was directed to fly a left downwind heading and maintain 2500'. Subsequently, I was assigned a heading of 090 degree. Approximately 10-15 mins later radar service was terminated by bwi departure. I promptly requested that I be handed off to another center for flight following. Having received no affirmative response I again made the same request but was advised to squawk XXXX. I then proceeded to navigate to the kenton VORTAC (eno). It was at this time I realized that my vacuum system had failed as well as part of the electrical system. Because of these mechanical failures I was not sure of my position and subsequently requested assistance from phl approach. It is possible, although highly improbable, that I could have entered the air traffic area's between bwi and mcguire AFB and/or a restr area and the phl TCA. It is suggested that air safety would be better served by a spirit of cooperation between air controllers and VFR pilots when flight following and/or flight advisories are requested.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT COMPLAINS OF POOR HANDLING BY BWI APCH IN REFUSING TO HANDOFF TO ADJACENT ATC FAC FOR CONTINUED VFR RADAR SERVICES. PLT HAD SUBSEQUENT VACUUM FAILURE WHICH LEFT HIM UNSURE OF WHETHER OR NOT HE MAY HAVE PENETRATED THE PHL TCA, WRI ATA, OR A NEARBY RESTRICTED AREA.

Narrative: ON FEB/SUN/90 I REQUESTED A CLRNC FROM BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON (BWI) CLRNC DELIVERY TO BEDFORD (HANSCOM ARPT), MA, VFR WITH AN INITIAL ALT OF 4500'. MY INTENTION WAS TO INTERCEPT V268 TO KENTON (ENO) VORTAC THEN ALONG V16 TO MY DEST. ON DEPARTING RWY 22 I WAS DIRECTED TO FLY A LEFT DOWNWIND HDG AND MAINTAIN 2500'. SUBSEQUENTLY, I WAS ASSIGNED A HDG OF 090 DEG. APPROX 10-15 MINS LATER RADAR SERVICE WAS TERMINATED BY BWI DEP. I PROMPTLY REQUESTED THAT I BE HANDED OFF TO ANOTHER CENTER FOR FLT FOLLOWING. HAVING RECEIVED NO AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSE I AGAIN MADE THE SAME REQUEST BUT WAS ADVISED TO SQUAWK XXXX. I THEN PROCEEDED TO NAVIGATE TO THE KENTON VORTAC (ENO). IT WAS AT THIS TIME I REALIZED THAT MY VACUUM SYSTEM HAD FAILED AS WELL AS PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. BECAUSE OF THESE MECHANICAL FAILURES I WAS NOT SURE OF MY POSITION AND SUBSEQUENTLY REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM PHL APCH. IT IS POSSIBLE, ALTHOUGH HIGHLY IMPROBABLE, THAT I COULD HAVE ENTERED THE ATA'S BETWEEN BWI AND MCGUIRE AFB AND/OR A RESTR AREA AND THE PHL TCA. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT AIR SAFETY WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION BETWEEN AIR CTLRS AND VFR PLTS WHEN FLT FOLLOWING AND/OR FLT ADVISORIES ARE REQUESTED.

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.

GA pilot complains of poor handling by bwi approach in refusing to handoff to adjacent ATC facility for continued VFR radar services. Pilot had subsequent vacuum failure which left him unsure of whether or not he may have penetrated the phl TCA, wri air traffic area, or a nearby restricted area.