Communication difficulty contributed to aircraft entering air traffic area before tower clearance.

Attributes
ACN	298490
Time
Date	199503
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lvk
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lvk
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor observation : company check pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2300 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	298490
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was conducting a final part 141 commercial check ride for an applicant and executing the ILS runway 25 approach. Basically, we got a late handoff from sck approach (123.85), and I requested a change (in frequency). We tried to establish communication with the tower 3 times but did not obtain a response until we were on 3 mi final. No conflict occurred, and the tower asked if we had been given a late handoff. The problem arose from controller workload and the applicant not requesting a handoff. As check airmen we are not supposed to act as (required) crewmembers, so we have to see 'just how far an applicant will go' before disqualifying corrective action is required on our behalf.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COM DIFFICULTY CONTRIBUTED TO ACFT ENTERING ATA BEFORE TWR CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS CONDUCTING A FINAL PART 141 COMMERCIAL CHECK RIDE FOR AN APPLICANT AND EXECUTING THE ILS RWY 25 APCH. BASICALLY, WE GOT A LATE HDOF FROM SCK APCH (123.85), AND I REQUESTED A CHANGE (IN FREQ). WE TRIED TO ESTABLISH COM WITH THE TWR 3 TIMES BUT DID NOT OBTAIN A RESPONSE UNTIL WE WERE ON 3 MI FINAL. NO CONFLICT OCCURRED, AND THE TWR ASKED IF WE HAD BEEN GIVEN A LATE HDOF. THE PROB AROSE FROM CTLR WORKLOAD AND THE APPLICANT NOT REQUESTING A HDOF. AS CHK AIRMEN WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO ACT AS (REQUIRED) CREWMEMBERS, SO WE HAVE TO SEE 'JUST HOW FAR AN APPLICANT WILL GO' BEFORE DISQUALIFYING CORRECTIVE ACTION IS REQUIRED ON OUR BEHALF.

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.