A bell helicopter pilot reports nearing the ADIZ south of ack.

Attributes
ACN	453999
Time
Date	199910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ack.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	Bell Helicopter Textron Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 6500
ASRS Report	453999
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I decided to head back to the airport. On the way back, I remember looking at the GPS and seeing the distance to airport being 14 NM. Then I remember the ADIZ. I am 98% sure that I did not cross the ADIZ. The fact remains that the aircraft remained clear of the ADIZ due to good fortune, not by my knowing where the aircraft was in reference to it. In the future, whenever I change from one assignment to another, whether I made the change or a dispatcher or customer or anyone else, I will take the time for at least a giant deep breath and look at the new or modified assignment very closely and if it's easier than the prior one, I'll force myself to look and give it every bit as much attention as though it were the more difficult one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BELL HELI PLT RPTS NEARING THE ADIZ S OF ACK.

Narrative: I DECIDED TO HEAD BACK TO THE ARPT. ON THE WAY BACK, I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE GPS AND SEEING THE DISTANCE TO ARPT BEING 14 NM. THEN I REMEMBER THE ADIZ. I AM 98% SURE THAT I DID NOT CROSS THE ADIZ. THE FACT REMAINS THAT THE ACFT REMAINED CLR OF THE ADIZ DUE TO GOOD FORTUNE, NOT BY MY KNOWING WHERE THE ACFT WAS IN REF TO IT. IN THE FUTURE, WHENEVER I CHANGE FROM ONE ASSIGNMENT TO ANOTHER, WHETHER I MADE THE CHANGE OR A DISPATCHER OR CUSTOMER OR ANYONE ELSE, I WILL TAKE THE TIME FOR AT LEAST A GIANT DEEP BREATH AND LOOK AT THE NEW OR MODIFIED ASSIGNMENT VERY CLOSELY AND IF IT'S EASIER THAN THE PRIOR ONE, I'LL FORCE MYSELF TO LOOK AND GIVE IT EVERY BIT AS MUCH ATTN AS THOUGH IT WERE THE MORE DIFFICULT ONE.

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.