Air taxi has mode C failure. Files IFR into TCA.

Attributes
ACN	203023
Time
Date	199202
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	203023
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Mode C failed while outbound from san francisco for pickup in truckee. I filed IFR for the return leg, on the mistaken assumption that the mode C veil rule applied only to VFR aircraft. Although I informed each successive controller that my mode C was apparently inoperative, I neither asked for nor received permission to enter the TCA with an inoperative mode C, putting me in technical violation of the regulations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIR TAXI HAS MODE C FAILURE. FILES IFR INTO TCA.

Narrative: MODE C FAILED WHILE OUTBOUND FROM SAN FRANCISCO FOR PICKUP IN TRUCKEE. I FILED IFR FOR THE RETURN LEG, ON THE MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION THAT THE MODE C VEIL RULE APPLIED ONLY TO VFR ACFT. ALTHOUGH I INFORMED EACH SUCCESSIVE CTLR THAT MY MODE C WAS APPARENTLY INOP, I NEITHER ASKED FOR NOR RECEIVED PERMISSION TO ENTER THE TCA WITH AN INOP MODE C, PUTTING ME IN TECHNICAL VIOLATION OF THE REGS.

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.