Small aircraft has stuck microphone problem and possible entry into TCA.

Attributes
ACN	224482
Time
Date	199210
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
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 : 700
ASRS Report	224482
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed orange county airport for trenton-robinsville airport via sparta VOR and solberg VOR at 3000 ft. Early that morning I called flight service for an en route WX briefing and was not told the sparta VOR would be out after XX00 zulu. While in the air I tried to recalculate my radial to avoid the ny TCA since the sparta VOR was out. I also tried to contact ny approach control for TA but was only able to give my call sign briefly due to an intermittently stuck microphone switch which I was not aware of at the time. Due to these distrs I inadvertently forgot to switch my transponder to mode 'C' prior to entering the TCA veil for nyc. I may have entered the edge of the TCA at 3000 ft but do not believe I did. There may also have been a possible traffic conflict. I believe I need to fly more in a TCA environment so that proper procedures are second nature to me. I also need to fly more locally perhaps so any radio problems such as a sticking microphone switch will show up at a less critical time. I also need to specifically ask the FSS for any NOTAMS on future briefings.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS STUCK MIKE PROBLEM AND POSSIBLE ENTRY INTO TCA.

Narrative: I DEPARTED ORANGE COUNTY ARPT FOR TRENTON-ROBINSVILLE ARPT VIA SPARTA VOR AND SOLBERG VOR AT 3000 FT. EARLY THAT MORNING I CALLED FLT SVC FOR AN ENRTE WX BRIEFING AND WAS NOT TOLD THE SPARTA VOR WOULD BE OUT AFTER XX00 ZULU. WHILE IN THE AIR I TRIED TO RECALCULATE MY RADIAL TO AVOID THE NY TCA SINCE THE SPARTA VOR WAS OUT. I ALSO TRIED TO CONTACT NY APCH CTL FOR TA BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO GIVE MY CALL SIGN BRIEFLY DUE TO AN INTERMITTENTLY STUCK MIKE SWITCH WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF AT THE TIME. DUE TO THESE DISTRS I INADVERTENTLY FORGOT TO SWITCH MY TRANSPONDER TO MODE 'C' PRIOR TO ENTERING THE TCA VEIL FOR NYC. I MAY HAVE ENTERED THE EDGE OF THE TCA AT 3000 FT BUT DO NOT BELIEVE I DID. THERE MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN A POSSIBLE TFC CONFLICT. I BELIEVE I NEED TO FLY MORE IN A TCA ENVIRONMENT SO THAT PROPER PROCS ARE SECOND NATURE TO ME. I ALSO NEED TO FLY MORE LOCALLY PERHAPS SO ANY RADIO PROBLEMS SUCH AS A STICKING MIKE SWITCH WILL SHOW UP AT A LESS CRITICAL TIME. I ALSO NEED TO SPECIFICALLY ASK THE FSS FOR ANY NOTAMS ON FUTURE BRIEFINGS.

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.