Student pilot on BE55 improperly changed transponder code to VFR while in dc ADIZ. Prompt action by the reporter in returning to proper discrete code appears to have remedied the problem.

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Attributes
ACN	577152
Time
Date	200303
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fme.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Baron 55/Cochise
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	577152
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight was returning to fme on a VFR ADIZ flight plan after 1.0 hours of dual instruction as part of multi engine training. Upon successfully picking up a VFR ADIZ clearance and beacon code, flight entered dc ADIZ en route fme. Approximately 2 miles southeast of fme pct approach advised flight to change frequency to CTAF, but keep beacon code to touchdown. Instructor was looking for traffic when student reached down and changed beacon code to 1200. Instructor upon noticing change in transponder code immediately switched code back to the discrete code, but was unsure if this was original code. Instructor switched back to pct frequency in an attempt to raise approach and advise them of the situation. Flight was unable to contact pct due to frequency saturation. Code was switched to 1200 for approximately 5 seconds before error was caught. Heard no response from pct regarding situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT PLT ON BE55 IMPROPERLY CHANGED XPONDER CODE TO VFR WHILE IN DC ADIZ. PROMPT ACTION BY THE RPTR IN RETURNING TO PROPER DISCRETE CODE APPEARS TO HAVE REMEDIED THE PROB.

Narrative: FLT WAS RETURNING TO FME ON A VFR ADIZ FLT PLAN AFTER 1.0 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION AS PART OF MULTI ENG TRAINING. UPON SUCCESSFULLY PICKING UP A VFR ADIZ CLRNC AND BEACON CODE, FLT ENTERED DC ADIZ ENRTE FME. APPROX 2 MILES SE OF FME PCT APCH ADVISED FLT TO CHANGE FREQ TO CTAF, BUT KEEP BEACON CODE TO TOUCHDOWN. INSTRUCTOR WAS LOOKING FOR TFC WHEN STUDENT REACHED DOWN AND CHANGED BEACON CODE TO 1200. INSTRUCTOR UPON NOTICING CHANGE IN XPONDER CODE IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED CODE BACK TO THE DISCRETE CODE, BUT WAS UNSURE IF THIS WAS ORIGINAL CODE. INSTRUCTOR SWITCHED BACK TO PCT FREQUENCY IN AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE APCH AND ADVISE THEM OF THE SIT. FLT WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT PCT DUE TO FREQUENCY SATURATION. CODE WAS SWITCHED TO 1200 FOR APPROX 5 SECONDS BEFORE ERROR WAS CAUGHT. HEARD NO RESPONSE FROM PCT REGARDING SIT.

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.