Pilot of a piper PA60, aerostar, became momentarily disoriented and almost entered restr airspace.

Attributes
ACN	491780
Time
Date	200011
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cvg.vortac
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl single value : 13500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-60 600 Aerostar
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 9800 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	491780
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : vor & gps other flight crewa

Narrative:

While cruising VFR at 13500 ft I was momentarily distracted by fluctuating fuel pressure on my left engine. Upon correcting this issue, I checked my position and noticed a 'special use airspace' warning from my GPS. I initially mistook this as a warning. I was approaching cincinnati class B airspace. I then visually confirmed my position and noted I was near R-3403. I immediately turned to a 090 degree heading to avoid this restr area. I am very familiar with R-3403 and I was able to avoid incursion of this airspace. By use of visual and GPS positioning I can state with certainty that I did not fly into R-3403. I cannot say that I did not remain clear of the 3 NM buffer which should be honored around all restr airspace. Contributing to this possible violation were an initial southerly heading issued by indianapolis departure control, my distraction by the fuel pressure fluctuating and my wrong assumption regarding my GPS's warning.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A PIPER PA60, AEROSTAR, BECAME MOMENTARILY DISORIENTED AND ALMOST ENTERED RESTR AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING VFR AT 13500 FT I WAS MOMENTARILY DISTRACTED BY FLUCTUATING FUEL PRESSURE ON MY L ENG. UPON CORRECTING THIS ISSUE, I CHKED MY POS AND NOTICED A 'SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE' WARNING FROM MY GPS. I INITIALLY MISTOOK THIS AS A WARNING. I WAS APCHING CINCINNATI CLASS B AIRSPACE. I THEN VISUALLY CONFIRMED MY POS AND NOTED I WAS NEAR R-3403. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO A 090 DEG HDG TO AVOID THIS RESTR AREA. I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH R-3403 AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID INCURSION OF THIS AIRSPACE. BY USE OF VISUAL AND GPS POSITIONING I CAN STATE WITH CERTAINTY THAT I DID NOT FLY INTO R-3403. I CANNOT SAY THAT I DID NOT REMAIN CLR OF THE 3 NM BUFFER WHICH SHOULD BE HONORED AROUND ALL RESTR AIRSPACE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS POSSIBLE VIOLATION WERE AN INITIAL SOUTHERLY HEADING ISSUED BY INDIANAPOLIS DEP CTL, MY DISTR BY THE FUEL PRESSURE FLUCTUATING AND MY WRONG ASSUMPTION REGARDING MY GPS'S WARNING.

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.