Private pilot on a cross country training flight was informed by ATC that his transponder was not wo...

Attributes
ACN	318430
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abi
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : abi
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 155 flight time type : 136
ASRS Report	318430
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I took off on oct/sun/95 in a cessna 152 from TG7 -- abi for a cross country. During my before takeoff checks, I saw my transponder light blinking when I checked it on test mode. However due to unknown reason, when I was about 20 NM northeast of abilene regional airport, I contacted approach for clearance into class C airspace and squawked the number they gave me. Approach stated that my transponder seems to be inoperative. I checked all the circuit breakers. Switched off the transponder and again put it on, but all in vain, and I told approach that I cannot even see my transponder light blinking. Approach asked me to take a right turn and idented me on radar but remarked that I have entered class C airspace with inoperative transponder. I got a little worried about this remark, so I asked approach that I'll just make a touch and go and then depart to northeast and it was approved. On departure, I explained approach that I did check my transponder before takeoff from TG7 and thanked him for his cooperation. But due to his remark, I decided to file this report.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT ON A XCOUNTRY TRAINING FLT WAS INFORMED BY ATC THAT HIS XPONDER WAS NOT WORKING.

Narrative: I TOOK OFF ON OCT/SUN/95 IN A CESSNA 152 FROM TG7 -- ABI FOR A XCOUNTRY. DURING MY BEFORE TKOF CHKS, I SAW MY XPONDER LIGHT BLINKING WHEN I CHKED IT ON TEST MODE. HOWEVER DUE TO UNKNOWN REASON, WHEN I WAS ABOUT 20 NM NE OF ABILENE REGIONAL ARPT, I CONTACTED APCH FOR CLRNC INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE AND SQUAWKED THE NUMBER THEY GAVE ME. APCH STATED THAT MY XPONDER SEEMS TO BE INOP. I CHKED ALL THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS. SWITCHED OFF THE XPONDER AND AGAIN PUT IT ON, BUT ALL IN VAIN, AND I TOLD APCH THAT I CANNOT EVEN SEE MY XPONDER LIGHT BLINKING. APCH ASKED ME TO TAKE A R TURN AND IDENTED ME ON RADAR BUT REMARKED THAT I HAVE ENTERED CLASS C AIRSPACE WITH INOP XPONDER. I GOT A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THIS REMARK, SO I ASKED APCH THAT I'LL JUST MAKE A TOUCH AND GO AND THEN DEPART TO NE AND IT WAS APPROVED. ON DEP, I EXPLAINED APCH THAT I DID CHK MY XPONDER BEFORE TKOF FROM TG7 AND THANKED HIM FOR HIS COOPERATION. BUT DUE TO HIS REMARK, I DECIDED TO FILE THIS RPT.

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.

Private pilot on a cross country training flight was informed by ATC that his transponder was not working.