Date: 201704
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZBW.ARTCC, NH
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Medium Transport
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class E N90
ATC / advisory: Center ZBW
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting; Human-Machine Interface; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Workload
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Weather; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: I was working SWF/PWL sectors combed with a D-side. I had a high volume of traffic and was holding for LGA due being below user minimums. I was given the current RVR and was told that if aircraft could take it; they could come into LGA. In the midst of relaying information to aircraft and some wanting to go and some not; I had to maneuver aircraft around traffic holding lower in the stack and simultaneously work several HPN; EWR; and TEB arrivals. I had a TEB jet and 2 EWR props to sequence even though our LOA states that we can give N90 Mugzy sector aircraft at 6000 and others and others in conflict at 7;000. In recent months; N90 has decided that they do not like this part of the LOA so have been making us spin aircraft at 070 with no notice. Since I did not want that to happen; I vectored the props behind the jet and gave them plenty of space. As I was busy clearing aircraft into LGA and several other things; the last EWR prop; Aircraft X was flashing at N90 Mugzy sector and entered their airspace without a hand off. The D-side brought it to my attention when it was much too late to avoid the airspace; Mugzy did not call us to put the aircraft into a hold or tell us to spin it; they simply did not take the handoff. We were too busy and did not notice the handoff had not been taken. A while later; the D-side called Mugzy to ask what the problem was and they said it was a EWR spacing problem.First; the LOA needs to change if it no longer suits N90's needs. Second; if it changes and we have to put all traffic over HUO in trail; we need to create a new route for EWR satellite jets as it is impossible sometimes to space jets behind props. Third; if a sector cannot take traffic; they should call the sector attempting hand off and let them know to hold or spin; not just not take the hand off. There have been countless times Mugzy just doesn't take the hand off even though we are fully compliant with LOAs; Miles-in-trail restrictions; and the like. It seems there is absolutely zero accountability for these people either holding aircraft unnecessarily or burdening our sector with no-notice/no communication holds. Fourth; SWF and PWL should probably have been de-combined.




Synopsis: Boston Center Controller reported that during a high volume traffic session an aircraft entered another sectors airspace without a handoff.