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Small aircraft corporate pilot proceeds into the lax 30 mi veil with an inoperative transponder mode C. Bfl approach had advised to mode C, reporter failed to accept that fact.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 353970 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199611 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : vny |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 4900 msl bound upper : 4900 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : lax tracon : bfl |
| Operator | general aviation : corporate |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 800 |
| ASRS Report | 353970 |
| 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 controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation other |
Narrative:
About 5 NM into the 30 NM radius mode C veil for lax, approach advised me that my mode C altitude reporting was inoperative. It had worked fine on previous flts. Bakersfield radar had advised me that my mode C was inoperative in a southern corner of the valley on the way down to our destination (santa monica, smo). However, on past flts our mode C had gone inoperative (briefly) in this same geographic area. We assumed it was a 'terrain/radar site/mode C sensitivity' issue. With that history in mind, I continued into the mode C veil airspace, assuming my mode C was working. The reply light was indicating normally (I suspect, now however, that the reply light does not reflect mode C output). Mode C worked ok on subsequent flts.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: SMA CORPORATE PLT PROCEEDS INTO THE LAX 30 MI VEIL WITH AN INOP XPONDER MODE C. BFL APCH HAD ADVISED TO MODE C, RPTR FAILED TO ACCEPT THAT FACT.
Narrative: ABOUT 5 NM INTO THE 30 NM RADIUS MODE C VEIL FOR LAX, APCH ADVISED ME THAT MY MODE C ALT RPTING WAS INOP. IT HAD WORKED FINE ON PREVIOUS FLTS. BAKERSFIELD RADAR HAD ADVISED ME THAT MY MODE C WAS INOP IN A SOUTHERN CORNER OF THE VALLEY ON THE WAY DOWN TO OUR DEST (SANTA MONICA, SMO). HOWEVER, ON PAST FLTS OUR MODE C HAD GONE INOP (BRIEFLY) IN THIS SAME GEOGRAPHIC AREA. WE ASSUMED IT WAS A 'TERRAIN/RADAR SITE/MODE C SENSITIVITY' ISSUE. WITH THAT HISTORY IN MIND, I CONTINUED INTO THE MODE C VEIL AIRSPACE, ASSUMING MY MODE C WAS WORKING. THE REPLY LIGHT WAS INDICATING NORMALLY (I SUSPECT, NOW HOWEVER, THAT THE REPLY LIGHT DOES NOT REFLECT MODE C OUTPUT). MODE C WORKED OK ON SUBSEQUENT FLTS.
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.