A B737-700 flight crew on arrival to sna exceeded the 200 KT speed limit below the class B floor.

Attributes
ACN	705617
Time
Date	200608
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sna.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 215 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	705617
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During a vectored approach for runway 19R sna; ATC asked our airspeed. I said '230 KTS.' he responded; 'you've got to be kidding me.' I don't know if he meant it as a joke (ie; radar indicated a much different airspeed) or if he was implying that we exceeded the airspeed restr below class B airspace. Nothing else was said concerning the airspeed. We slowed to 200 KTS and continued the approach. Require ATC to keep aircraft in class B airspace during vectors. Possibly enhance EFIS map to show airspace restrs. I know these two are not practical. This was my first approach into sna in probably 2 yrs. The chart indicates to use caution if you get an early turn onto a downwind leg. I wasn't familiar enough with the approach to know where an early turn might occur and it was overcast; so we had no visual cues. Next approach into sna; I will slow to 200 KTS earlier than I have in the past. I think it's better to be looking outside for traffic rather than being heads down referencing charts and vors in order to figure out when you might be below class B airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 FLT CREW ON ARR TO SNA EXCEEDED THE 200 KT SPD LIMIT BELOW THE CLASS B FLOOR.

Narrative: DURING A VECTORED APCH FOR RWY 19R SNA; ATC ASKED OUR AIRSPD. I SAID '230 KTS.' HE RESPONDED; 'YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.' I DON'T KNOW IF HE MEANT IT AS A JOKE (IE; RADAR INDICATED A MUCH DIFFERENT AIRSPD) OR IF HE WAS IMPLYING THAT WE EXCEEDED THE AIRSPD RESTR BELOW CLASS B AIRSPACE. NOTHING ELSE WAS SAID CONCERNING THE AIRSPD. WE SLOWED TO 200 KTS AND CONTINUED THE APCH. REQUIRE ATC TO KEEP ACFT IN CLASS B AIRSPACE DURING VECTORS. POSSIBLY ENHANCE EFIS MAP TO SHOW AIRSPACE RESTRS. I KNOW THESE TWO ARE NOT PRACTICAL. THIS WAS MY FIRST APCH INTO SNA IN PROBABLY 2 YRS. THE CHART INDICATES TO USE CAUTION IF YOU GET AN EARLY TURN ONTO A DOWNWIND LEG. I WASN'T FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THE APCH TO KNOW WHERE AN EARLY TURN MIGHT OCCUR AND IT WAS OVCST; SO WE HAD NO VISUAL CUES. NEXT APCH INTO SNA; I WILL SLOW TO 200 KTS EARLIER THAN I HAVE IN THE PAST. I THINK IT'S BETTER TO BE LOOKING OUTSIDE FOR TFC RATHER THAN BEING HEADS DOWN REFING CHARTS AND VORS IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT WHEN YOU MIGHT BE BELOW CLASS B AIRSPACE.

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.