Narrative:

B777 entered ZHU airspace without a handoff. While working the nepta sector at ZJX; I had climbed B777 to FL400 for ride. The aircraft had a 40 KT overtake on a B737. When I issued a speed restr to the B777-200; the pilot asked to change back down to FL380. The aircraft had started to automatic handoff to ZHU and I took the aircraft out of handoff status and descended the aircraft to FL380. The aircraft was still 20 NM from the boundary with ZHU. I got tied up issuing WX to other aircraft reference thunderstorm and when I went back to that side of the sector; B777 was just crossing the boundary with ZHU without a handoff. The automatic handoff had failed to restart the handoff. I had 18 aircraft at the time which; for this sector; is not busy. Having to issue the WX to aircraft just checking on distraction me from completing the handoff.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZJX CTLR EXPERIENCED OPDEV; DISTRACTED BY OTHER DUTIES; CHANGED HDOF STATUS OF ACFT APPROACHING ADJACENT SECTOR; FORGETTING TO MAKE HDOF.

Narrative: B777 ENTERED ZHU AIRSPACE WITHOUT A HDOF. WHILE WORKING THE NEPTA SECTOR AT ZJX; I HAD CLBED B777 TO FL400 FOR RIDE. THE ACFT HAD A 40 KT OVERTAKE ON A B737. WHEN I ISSUED A SPD RESTR TO THE B777-200; THE PLT ASKED TO CHANGE BACK DOWN TO FL380. THE ACFT HAD STARTED TO AUTO HDOF TO ZHU AND I TOOK THE ACFT OUT OF HDOF STATUS AND DSNDED THE ACFT TO FL380. THE ACFT WAS STILL 20 NM FROM THE BOUNDARY WITH ZHU. I GOT TIED UP ISSUING WX TO OTHER ACFT REF TSTM AND WHEN I WENT BACK TO THAT SIDE OF THE SECTOR; B777 WAS JUST XING THE BOUNDARY WITH ZHU WITHOUT A HDOF. THE AUTO HDOF HAD FAILED TO RESTART THE HDOF. I HAD 18 ACFT AT THE TIME WHICH; FOR THIS SECTOR; IS NOT BUSY. HAVING TO ISSUE THE WX TO ACFT JUST CHKING ON DISTR ME FROM COMPLETING THE HDOF.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.