Small aircraft had radio failure just after departure on IFR flight plan in IMC. Used handheld but batteries failed. Returned via vectors to departure airport.

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Attributes
ACN	125342
Time
Date	198909
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl tower : sba
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	125342
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Total communication failure after takeoff in IMC. When switching to approach (119.3), called 4 times to check in. When no response, used handheld to establish contact. Asked to return to pdk via ILS 20L. Given radar vector (360?) and told to expect 2 mi turn to outer marker and to respond via identify, turn to 030 then 090. During final vector handheld batteries expired. Returned on 090 heading as final vector heading was not received. Dialed 7700 on transponder for approximately 1 min the 7600. Tried various methods to revive communication and handheld. Intercepted localizer at 70 degree, landed captured glide slope. Flew ILS and broke out at 400 AGL landed. Taxied off 20L and awaited light signal from tower. Received green light signal and taxied directly to ramp. Chose to complete the approach by route told to expect. Dialed 7700 then 7600 to inform the controller of total failure and complete the approach and landing under emergency prerogative of PIC. Training reinforced this decision and made it the only logical choice.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAD RADIO FAILURE JUST AFTER DEP ON IFR FLT PLAN IN IMC. USED HANDHELD BUT BATTERIES FAILED. RETURNED VIA VECTORS TO DEP ARPT.

Narrative: TOTAL COM FAILURE AFTER TKOF IN IMC. WHEN SWITCHING TO APCH (119.3), CALLED 4 TIMES TO CHECK IN. WHEN NO RESPONSE, USED HANDHELD TO ESTABLISH CONTACT. ASKED TO RETURN TO PDK VIA ILS 20L. GIVEN RADAR VECTOR (360?) AND TOLD TO EXPECT 2 MI TURN TO OUTER MARKER AND TO RESPOND VIA IDENT, TURN TO 030 THEN 090. DURING FINAL VECTOR HANDHELD BATTERIES EXPIRED. RETURNED ON 090 HDG AS FINAL VECTOR HDG WAS NOT RECEIVED. DIALED 7700 ON XPONDER FOR APPROX 1 MIN THE 7600. TRIED VARIOUS METHODS TO REVIVE COM AND HANDHELD. INTERCEPTED LOC AT 70 DEG, LANDED CAPTURED GLIDE SLOPE. FLEW ILS AND BROKE OUT AT 400 AGL LANDED. TAXIED OFF 20L AND AWAITED LIGHT SIGNAL FROM TWR. RECEIVED GREEN LIGHT SIGNAL AND TAXIED DIRECTLY TO RAMP. CHOSE TO COMPLETE THE APCH BY ROUTE TOLD TO EXPECT. DIALED 7700 THEN 7600 TO INFORM THE CTLR OF TOTAL FAILURE AND COMPLETE THE APCH AND LNDG UNDER EMER PREROGATIVE OF PIC. TRAINING REINFORCED THIS DECISION AND MADE IT THE ONLY LOGICAL CHOICE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.