Pilot of small aircraft entered sjc arsa without operative mode C transponder.

Attributes
ACN	139608
Time
Date	199003
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ccr
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 286 flight time type : 286
ASRS Report	139608
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During the first leg of a flight from concord (ccr) to watsonville (wvi) ATC advised they were not receiving the mode C reply. They requested and received verbal verification of altitude and provided flight following through the san jose arsa. (This leg was flown by another pilot). I flew the return trip from wvi to ccr by flying east to avoid the san jose arsa and then north to ccr. The 30 mi mode C area of the sfo TCA was entered near the calaveras reservoir at 2500' and continued to ccr. The FBO was immediately notified of the malfunction and indicated appropriate repairs would be made. In my opinion a recurrence of this situation could be prevented by: 1) requiring FBO's to check encoders on a regular basis (30 days). 2) a provision that would allow pilots to verify mode C operation prior to each flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ENTERED SJC ARSA WITHOUT OPERATIVE MODE C TRANSPONDER.

Narrative: DURING THE FIRST LEG OF A FLT FROM CONCORD (CCR) TO WATSONVILLE (WVI) ATC ADVISED THEY WERE NOT RECEIVING THE MODE C REPLY. THEY REQUESTED AND RECEIVED VERBAL VERIFICATION OF ALT AND PROVIDED FLT FOLLOWING THROUGH THE SAN JOSE ARSA. (THIS LEG WAS FLOWN BY ANOTHER PLT). I FLEW THE RETURN TRIP FROM WVI TO CCR BY FLYING EAST TO AVOID THE SAN JOSE ARSA AND THEN N TO CCR. THE 30 MI MODE C AREA OF THE SFO TCA WAS ENTERED NEAR THE CALAVERAS RESERVOIR AT 2500' AND CONTINUED TO CCR. THE FBO WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION AND INDICATED APPROPRIATE REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE. IN MY OPINION A RECURRENCE OF THIS SITUATION COULD BE PREVENTED BY: 1) REQUIRING FBO'S TO CHECK ENCODERS ON A REGULAR BASIS (30 DAYS). 2) A PROVISION THAT WOULD ALLOW PLTS TO VERIFY MODE C OPERATION PRIOR TO EACH FLT.

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.