Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 6; Flight Crew Total 3500; Flight Crew Type 3000
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Environment - Non Weather Related; Aircraft; Human Factors
Flight originated from ZZZ1 as a personal practice flight to do some air work; since I had not been flying as much as usual due to COVID-19 concerns and reduced flying time. Upon return to ZZZ1 about 10 miles out I began to reduce speed and attempted to go to flaps 10; the first notch of flaps on my aircraft. I could not get the flap handle to move; although it was fully operational on takeoff. I tried the flaps again several times and no movement. At that time; I was concerned with a possible split flap situation and did not want to force the manual flaps. I set the GPS for direct flight to ZZZ1 and contacted Tower to advise them of my issue and requested a straight into Runway XXL; the longest runway. Upon contacting ZZZ1 Tower I was advised that I was just inside the surface to 6;400 feet portion of the Class C airspace around ZZZ. My usual route of flight at 3;000 feet MSL would have taken me under the 4;200 feet to 6;400 feet portion of the Class C. Upon landing I called Approach Control as instructed and advised them of my error. In my focus on my flight control issue and in selecting a direct route to ZZZ1; I completely overlooked my position and wandered into the west edge of the Class C and wasn't paying attention to the position of my aircraft. This is the first time this has happened to me and certainly won't happen again. I have already had an A&P correct the flap problem.
GA pilot reported violating a Class C airspace while dealing with a flap malfunction.