Small aircraft pilot advised of malfunctioning transponder when en route for local flight. Later evaluation determines the biannual transponder inspection had been missed.

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Attributes
ACN	502220
Time
Date	200102
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oun.airport
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc tracon : okc.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	controller : developmental pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	controller non radar : 1.5 controller radar : 1.5 flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 220 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	502220
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : repair performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I departed oun. I headed north, contacted okc approach and asked for flight following to stillwater, ok, and back. The controller advised me that my altitude showed 1000 ft low. He handed me off to ZKC who advised me to squawk altitude. ZKC did not mention my altitude. On the way back south, I queried the center controller before changing to okc approach and he showed my altitude 200-300 ft high. After contacting okc, I asked about my altitude and the controller said it was correct. A few mins later he showed it 1500 ft low. I called the okc approach supervisor immediately after landing as requested. After further inspection, the owner realized that the transponder was out of its inspection window. I had been assured that all required inspections were complete, but the owner was incorrect. I took his word and did not personally check the inspection date.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ADVISED OF MALFUNCTIONING XPONDER WHEN ENRTE FOR LCL FLT. LATER EVALUATION DETERMINES THE BIANNUAL XPONDER INSPECTION HAD BEEN MISSED.

Narrative: I DEPARTED OUN. I HEADED N, CONTACTED OKC APCH AND ASKED FOR FLT FOLLOWING TO STILLWATER, OK, AND BACK. THE CTLR ADVISED ME THAT MY ALT SHOWED 1000 FT LOW. HE HANDED ME OFF TO ZKC WHO ADVISED ME TO SQUAWK ALT. ZKC DID NOT MENTION MY ALT. ON THE WAY BACK S, I QUERIED THE CTR CTLR BEFORE CHANGING TO OKC APCH AND HE SHOWED MY ALT 200-300 FT HIGH. AFTER CONTACTING OKC, I ASKED ABOUT MY ALT AND THE CTLR SAID IT WAS CORRECT. A FEW MINS LATER HE SHOWED IT 1500 FT LOW. I CALLED THE OKC APCH SUPVR IMMEDIATELY AFTER LNDG AS REQUESTED. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE OWNER REALIZED THAT THE XPONDER WAS OUT OF ITS INSPECTION WINDOW. I HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT ALL REQUIRED INSPECTIONS WERE COMPLETE, BUT THE OWNER WAS INCORRECT. I TOOK HIS WORD AND DID NOT PERSONALLY CHK THE INSPECTION DATE.

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.