Narrative:

I operated an out-of-date transponder/encoder numerous times under VFR conditions within the 30 NM mode C circle surrounding lax airport, and on several occasions within the bur class C airspace (particularly on sep/xa/99). Transponder and altitude encoder worked properly and accurately at all times, as verified by verbal communication with ATC and by listening to myself being called out as traffic for other airplanes. No flts under IFR were conducted using this transponder. Last transponder and encoding altimeter test and inspection was apr/xa/99. The expiration date escaped notice at the last annual (nov/98), thus I was not prompted or forced to obtain calibration. Airplane is based at el monte, ca (emt). The previous calibrations were done at other airports, whiteman and santa paula, in the los angeles area. Sheer laziness about taking the airplane to another airport for altimeter testing allowed this excessive time to pass after expiration of the valid 24 month operation period. I have not let my third class medical or BFR go more than a couple of weeks beyond the 2-YR validity period, and of course I do not fly until a new medical and new BFR are obtained. Transponder testing doesn't seem to have the same urgency. I hate to suggest this, but if equipment certification (annuals, xponders, encoding altimeters, even ELT batteries) is a major safety problem, then perhaps some sort of FAA oversight of this situation is necessary (similar to 2-YR smog checks on cars and visible license plate stickers indicating compliance with requirements). This transponder/encoder has been newly tested and inspected on sep/xa/99.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OWNER OF A CHAMPION CITABRIA EXCEEDED THE XPONDER AND ALTIMETER RETEST REQUIREMENTS WHEN OPERATING WITHIN THE 30 MI MODE C CIRCLE AROUND THE CLASS B AIRSPACE, AND WITHIN CLASS C AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I OPERATED AN OUT-OF-DATE XPONDER/ENCODER NUMEROUS TIMES UNDER VFR CONDITIONS WITHIN THE 30 NM MODE C CIRCLE SURROUNDING LAX ARPT, AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITHIN THE BUR CLASS C AIRSPACE (PARTICULARLY ON SEP/XA/99). XPONDER AND ALT ENCODER WORKED PROPERLY AND ACCURATELY AT ALL TIMES, AS VERIFIED BY VERBAL COM WITH ATC AND BY LISTENING TO MYSELF BEING CALLED OUT AS TFC FOR OTHER AIRPLANES. NO FLTS UNDER IFR WERE CONDUCTED USING THIS XPONDER. LAST XPONDER AND ENCODING ALTIMETER TEST AND INSPECTION WAS APR/XA/99. THE EXPIRATION DATE ESCAPED NOTICE AT THE LAST ANNUAL (NOV/98), THUS I WAS NOT PROMPTED OR FORCED TO OBTAIN CALIBRATION. AIRPLANE IS BASED AT EL MONTE, CA (EMT). THE PREVIOUS CALIBRATIONS WERE DONE AT OTHER ARPTS, WHITEMAN AND SANTA PAULA, IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA. SHEER LAZINESS ABOUT TAKING THE AIRPLANE TO ANOTHER ARPT FOR ALTIMETER TESTING ALLOWED THIS EXCESSIVE TIME TO PASS AFTER EXPIRATION OF THE VALID 24 MONTH OP PERIOD. I HAVE NOT LET MY THIRD CLASS MEDICAL OR BFR GO MORE THAN A COUPLE OF WKS BEYOND THE 2-YR VALIDITY PERIOD, AND OF COURSE I DO NOT FLY UNTIL A NEW MEDICAL AND NEW BFR ARE OBTAINED. XPONDER TESTING DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME URGENCY. I HATE TO SUGGEST THIS, BUT IF EQUIP CERTIFICATION (ANNUALS, XPONDERS, ENCODING ALTIMETERS, EVEN ELT BATTERIES) IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROB, THEN PERHAPS SOME SORT OF FAA OVERSIGHT OF THIS SIT IS NECESSARY (SIMILAR TO 2-YR SMOG CHKS ON CARS AND VISIBLE LICENSE PLATE STICKERS INDICATING COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS). THIS XPONDER/ENCODER HAS BEEN NEWLY TESTED AND INSPECTED ON SEP/XA/99.

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.