Piper PA23 pilot inadvertently entered class B airspace during climb out from an underlying airport.

Attributes
ACN	501720
Time
Date	200102
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 3ck.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3600 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-23 Apache (& Geronimo Apache)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : vacating altitude
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1780 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	501720
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on departure from pwk to rfd. It was quite windy and thus turbulent. However, smoother air was above. At the vicinity of lake in the hills airport, I decided to climb to approximately 4000 ft MSL. However, as I was climbing, I attempted to verify my location. Because of the turbulence, it was difficult to read the chart. Even though lake in the hills (3CK) was at a base of 4000 ft MSL, I thought that perhaps I began my climb earlier in the 3600 ft MSL ring. Thus, to avoid further confusion and conflict, I descended to 3000 ft MSL, an altitude that I knew would keep me free of obstructions and class B airspace. I verified my location and by that point I was in rfd airspace and contacted rfd approach for advisories. I do not believe I penetrated class B airspace, however, if I did, I was at altitude for no longer than 30 seconds. Upon departure from pwk, I traveled northwest for a considerable distance to avoid the 1900 ft MSL ring.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA23 PLT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED CLASS B AIRSPACE DURING CLBOUT FROM AN UNDERLYING ARPT.

Narrative: I WAS ON DEP FROM PWK TO RFD. IT WAS QUITE WINDY AND THUS TURBULENT. HOWEVER, SMOOTHER AIR WAS ABOVE. AT THE VICINITY OF LAKE IN THE HILLS ARPT, I DECIDED TO CLB TO APPROX 4000 FT MSL. HOWEVER, AS I WAS CLBING, I ATTEMPTED TO VERIFY MY LOCATION. BECAUSE OF THE TURB, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO READ THE CHART. EVEN THOUGH LAKE IN THE HILLS (3CK) WAS AT A BASE OF 4000 FT MSL, I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS I BEGAN MY CLB EARLIER IN THE 3600 FT MSL RING. THUS, TO AVOID FURTHER CONFUSION AND CONFLICT, I DSNDED TO 3000 FT MSL, AN ALT THAT I KNEW WOULD KEEP ME FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS AND CLASS B AIRSPACE. I VERIFIED MY LOCATION AND BY THAT POINT I WAS IN RFD AIRSPACE AND CONTACTED RFD APCH FOR ADVISORIES. I DO NOT BELIEVE I PENETRATED CLASS B AIRSPACE, HOWEVER, IF I DID, I WAS AT ALT FOR NO LONGER THAN 30 SECONDS. UPON DEP FROM PWK, I TRAVELED NW FOR A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE TO AVOID THE 1900 FT MSL RING.

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.