Unauthorized penetration of airspace. Proximity of TCA.

Attributes
ACN	241152
Time
Date	199305
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 235 flight time total : 17200 flight time type : 316
ASRS Report	241152
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was taking a small helicopter from the crystal lake area to mdw for maintenance. I was having trouble with my LORAN, my DME and transponder. While trying to get these system to operate properly, I blundered into O'hare's TCA by possibly a half mi. When I realized the intrusion I made an immediate 180 degree turn until well clear of the TCA, before once again resuming my flight to mdw. I think I was somewhat overloaded by having several avionics problems to cope with simultaneously and this led me to transgress into the TCA even though this is an area I know very well. I am not sure what can be done about it except to encourage pilots to establish contact with approach control while still outside the TCA boundary. When you think about it, it does seem right that outside the TCA boundary you don't even have to be talking to anybody, but cross that magic line, not only must you be in radio contact, you need a clearance or face big trouble. It must be uncomfortable for controllers too, to be watching a radar target proceeding towards the TCA without radio communication wondering whether it is going to turn in time to stay clear of the TCA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE. PROX OF TCA.

Narrative: I WAS TAKING A SMALL HELI FROM THE CRYSTAL LAKE AREA TO MDW FOR MAINT. I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY LORAN, MY DME AND XPONDER. WHILE TRYING TO GET THESE SYS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, I BLUNDERED INTO O'HARE'S TCA BY POSSIBLY A HALF MI. WHEN I REALIZED THE INTRUSION I MADE AN IMMEDIATE 180 DEG TURN UNTIL WELL CLR OF THE TCA, BEFORE ONCE AGAIN RESUMING MY FLT TO MDW. I THINK I WAS SOMEWHAT OVERLOADED BY HAVING SEVERAL AVIONICS PROBS TO COPE WITH SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THIS LED ME TO TRANSGRESS INTO THE TCA EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN AREA I KNOW VERY WELL. I AM NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT EXCEPT TO ENCOURAGE PLTS TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH APCH CTL WHILE STILL OUTSIDE THE TCA BOUNDARY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT DOES SEEM RIGHT THAT OUTSIDE THE TCA BOUNDARY YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE TALKING TO ANYBODY, BUT CROSS THAT MAGIC LINE, NOT ONLY MUST YOU BE IN RADIO CONTACT, YOU NEED A CLRNC OR FACE BIG TROUBLE. IT MUST BE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR CTLRS TOO, TO BE WATCHING A RADAR TARGET PROCEEDING TOWARDS THE TCA WITHOUT RADIO COM WONDERING WHETHER IT IS GOING TO TURN IN TIME TO STAY CLR OF THE TCA.

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.