Narrative:

I filed an IFR plan for [my flight to] rrl and obtained a legal flight briefing through the internet. While flying through south bend approach [area] I requested cancellation of my IFR plan and VFR flight following from my present position and very specific to follow the chicago coastline at 2;500 ft. South bend told me to remain on my squawk code and proceed on my new heading while descending from 6;000 ft. While approaching the lake; south bend terminated services with no hand off to chicago. I continued on my heading while descending under the chicago class B and monitoring chicago approach. Upon approaching the downtown chicago area I was alerted on the radio by approach pinpointing my position that I was approaching a restricted area; and to turn east immediately; which I did. I had checked notams and did not find any for that area and also my airplane is equipped with xm weather alerting me on the moving map of any possible tfr which it was not showing. I was vectored around the tfr and back on route to my destination and asked to call the controlling agency once I landed. They said by their records I was 1/2 mile inside the tfr as best as they could tell. I understand that it is ultimately my responsibility to obtain all information regarding this flight and to my ability I thought I had. I feel that in this chain of events it could have been avoided if south bend could have advised me of the tfr and not let me proceed as well as them canceling services with no hand off. Chicago could have called me sooner if they saw my present track and thought I might penetrate the tfr. On my side I should have insisted on a frequency hand off for further services but was caught off guard and thought I could continue the flight without. I will never [again] rely on xm weather to depict the tfr areas.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A light aircraft pilot reported a possible TFR violation when his XM Weather device failed to alert him to the area. The reporter mentioned lack of NOTAM and minimal assistance from ATC as factors.

Narrative: I filed an IFR plan for [my flight to] RRL and obtained a legal flight briefing through the internet. While flying through South Bend Approach [area] I requested cancellation of my IFR plan and VFR flight following from my present position and very specific to follow the Chicago coastline At 2;500 FT. South Bend told me to remain on my squawk code and proceed on my new heading while descending from 6;000 FT. While approaching the lake; South Bend terminated services with no hand off to Chicago. I continued on my heading while descending under the Chicago Class B and monitoring Chicago approach. Upon approaching the downtown Chicago area I was alerted on the radio by Approach pinpointing my position that I was approaching a restricted area; and to turn east immediately; which I did. I had checked NOTAMs and did not find any for that area and also my airplane is equipped with XM weather alerting me on the moving map of any possible TFR which it was not showing. I was vectored around the TFR and back on route to my destination and asked to call the controlling agency once I landed. They said by their records I was 1/2 mile inside the TFR as best as they could tell. I understand that it is ultimately my responsibility to obtain all information regarding this flight and to my ability I thought I had. I feel that in this chain of events it could have been avoided if South Bend could have advised me of the TFR and not let me proceed as well as them canceling services with no hand off. Chicago could have called me sooner if they saw my present track and thought I might penetrate the TFR. On my side I should have insisted on a frequency hand off for further services but was caught off guard and thought I could continue the flight without. I will never [again] rely on XM weather to depict the TFR areas.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.