A BELL 407 ENTERED HFD CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.
Synopsis
A BELL 407 ENTERED HFD CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.
Narrative
EVENT: ENRTE; ACFT PENETRATED CLASS D AIRSPACE AT HFD (HARTFORD-BRAINARD; CT) WITHOUT TWR AUTH; AND POSSIBLY PENETRATED WINDSOR LOCKS CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT BRADLEY APCH CTL AUTH. SITUATION WAS CAUSED BY POOR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. SUMMARY: THE HELI WAS ALMOST BRAND NEW; AND THE PLT HAD FLOWN THIS PARTICULAR ACFT FOR ABOUT 1 HR. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH VERY SOPHISTICATED NAV EQUIP; WITH WHICH THE PIC HAD VERY LIMITED EXPERIENCE. EQUIP WAS THE CHELTON FLT SYS FLIGHTLOGIC EFIS AND A GARMIN GNS 530. PLT WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH FUNCTIONALITY OF THESE TWO EXCELLENT SYS; AND THE ABILITY TO DISPLAY RELEVANT INFO (AIRSPACE BOUNDARIES; IN PARTICULAR). THE PRESENCE OF THIS HIGH PERFORMANCE AVIONICS EQUIP; COUPLED WITH NICE VFR WX PRODUCED A COMPLACENT ATTITUDE WITH THIS PLT; REGARDING HIS ABILITY TO TRACK HIS EXACT POS. CAUSAL FACTORS: 1) POOR FAMILIARITY WITH FUNCTIONALITY OF SOPHISTICATED NAV EQUIP. 2) COMPLACENCY DUE TO PRESENCE OF SOPHISTICATED NAV EQUIP. 3) COMPLACENCY DUE TO PLEASANT FLYING CONDITIONS (VFR/BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY). CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: 1) GAINED MORE EXPERIENCE WITH GARMIN GNS 530; WILL OBTAIN SIMULATOR SOFTWARE. 2) GAINING MORE EXPERIENCE WITH CHELTON FLIGHTLOGIC EFIS; HOPE TO ATTEND SYS TRAINING COURSE. 3) STRONGER FOCUS ON PRECISE NAV/MAINTAINING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.