BK117 helicopter pilot flew into TRSA class C airspace at ZZZ, united states, without ATC clearance.

Attributes
ACN	583258
Time
Date	200305
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon tower : oma.tower
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	MBB-BK 117A-1
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 4800 flight time type : 512
ASRS Report	583258
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : spas light other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was 10 mi east of ZZZ. I was IMC and on a company flight plan. I had disengaged the autoplt and the spas (stick position augmentation system) light illuminated. This just helps keep the cyclic stick trimmed to the neutral position to help adjust for lateral control forces. I could not get the spas to reset. I became fixated with correcting the problem and had not noticed the aircraft was in a slow climb. At 2700 ft MSL, I was above the floor of the TRSA, which is 2500 ft MSL at ZZZ. I immediately descended and continued my approach into the hospital. The spas is a non-essential system (just nice to have) and I should not have concerned myself with it as long as I did.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BK117 HELI PLT FLEW INTO TRSA CLASS C AIRSPACE AT ZZZ, UNITED STATES, WITHOUT ATC CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS 10 MI E OF ZZZ. I WAS IMC AND ON A COMPANY FLT PLAN. I HAD DISENGAGED THE AUTOPLT AND THE SPAS (STICK POS AUGMENTATION SYS) LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS JUST HELPS KEEP THE CYCLIC STICK TRIMMED TO THE NEUTRAL POS TO HELP ADJUST FOR LATERAL CTL FORCES. I COULD NOT GET THE SPAS TO RESET. I BECAME FIXATED WITH CORRECTING THE PROB AND HAD NOT NOTICED THE ACFT WAS IN A SLOW CLB. AT 2700 FT MSL, I WAS ABOVE THE FLOOR OF THE TRSA, WHICH IS 2500 FT MSL AT ZZZ. I IMMEDIATELY DSNDED AND CONTINUED MY APCH INTO THE HOSPITAL. THE SPAS IS A NON-ESSENTIAL SYS (JUST NICE TO HAVE) AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE CONCERNED MYSELF WITH IT AS LONG AS I DID.

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.