M20R mooney pilot accepts an RNAV GPS 4L approach into btr with the VASI inoperative. The approach p...

Attributes
ACN	691266
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btr.airport
State Reference	LA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : btr.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 1990 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	691266
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Descending into baton rouge; I was told to expect the RNAV/GPS 4 approach into baton rouge. I pulled out the approach plate and briefed the approach. The briefing process was a little challenging since I hadn't reviewed a plate of an approach that had VNAV so I had to search for my minimums since I didn't have VNAV. When I got to the chart notes; I noticed that the approach said 'north/a at night with vgsi OTS.' I assume that the vgsi refers to the VASI which was indeed OTS; but at the time; I assumed that ATC wouldn't be clearing me for an approach if the required components were OTS. So; I was cleared for the approach and accepted it. I flew the approach without event. But as I was descending with visual contact; I heard the next aircraft; an rj check on the frequency. He questioned the tower about the note. The tower controller didn't seem to be aware of it; but when he pulled out his plate; he saw the note as well and said he didn't know what it meant; but it did seem to prohibit the approach at night with the vgsi OTS. The rj spent some time holding while the tower controller and the rj pilot tried to figure out what to do.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20R MOONEY PLT ACCEPTS AN RNAV GPS 4L APCH INTO BTR WITH THE VASI INOP. THE APCH PLATE INDICATES THE APCH IS NOT AUTH WITH THE VGSI OTS.

Narrative: DSNDING INTO BATON ROUGE; I WAS TOLD TO EXPECT THE RNAV/GPS 4 APCH INTO BATON ROUGE. I PULLED OUT THE APCH PLATE AND BRIEFED THE APCH. THE BRIEFING PROCESS WAS A LITTLE CHALLENGING SINCE I HADN'T REVIEWED A PLATE OF AN APCH THAT HAD VNAV SO I HAD TO SEARCH FOR MY MINIMUMS SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE VNAV. WHEN I GOT TO THE CHART NOTES; I NOTICED THAT THE APCH SAID 'N/A AT NIGHT WITH VGSI OTS.' I ASSUME THAT THE VGSI REFERS TO THE VASI WHICH WAS INDEED OTS; BUT AT THE TIME; I ASSUMED THAT ATC WOULDN'T BE CLRING ME FOR AN APCH IF THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS WERE OTS. SO; I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH AND ACCEPTED IT. I FLEW THE APCH WITHOUT EVENT. BUT AS I WAS DSNDING WITH VISUAL CONTACT; I HEARD THE NEXT ACFT; AN RJ CHK ON THE FREQ. HE QUESTIONED THE TWR ABOUT THE NOTE. THE TWR CTLR DIDN'T SEEM TO BE AWARE OF IT; BUT WHEN HE PULLED OUT HIS PLATE; HE SAW THE NOTE AS WELL AND SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANT; BUT IT DID SEEM TO PROHIBIT THE APCH AT NIGHT WITH THE VGSI OTS. THE RJ SPENT SOME TIME HOLDING WHILE THE TWR CTLR AND THE RJ PLT TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

M20R mooney pilot accepts an RNAV GPS 4L approach into btr with the VASI inoperative. The approach plate indicates the approach is not authority/authorized with the vgsi OTS.