Small aircraft accepted an approach clearance knowing that his communication receiver was intermitte...

Attributes
ACN	142879
Time
Date	199004
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : uki
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zoa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 545 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	142879
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Following a normally executed missed approach for the VOR a ukiah intermittent communication loss developed. Conditions were 10 mi west overcast to broken 2900-2800' AGL. Requested localizer/DME for ukiah two transmissions not acknowledged. Incoming scratchy/weak. Approach was flown in VFR MVFR with FSS handoff rdc out of procedure turn, service terminated. Minimal equipment on board with intermittent communication should have in my judgement, suggested diversion to a VFR field with better visibility approach conditions. Radios and antennas were examined, loose (unlocked) bnc connector located and corrected. Approach should not have been requested with available equipment and conditions. On board leg from 061 to ukiah I noted several altitude excursions 100-125' from assigned altitude. Not common to my normal flight operations. Although all communications for the majority of the flight were normal, one altimeter readback was incorrect. Holding pattern performance was also below my personal standard on the outbnd leg of this flight. Following a normal day, return leg was west/O event.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ACCEPTED AN APCH CLRNC KNOWING THAT HIS COM RECEIVER WAS INTERMITTENT.

Narrative: FOLLOWING A NORMALLY EXECUTED MISSED APCH FOR THE VOR A UKIAH INTERMITTENT COM LOSS DEVELOPED. CONDITIONS WERE 10 MI W OVCST TO BROKEN 2900-2800' AGL. REQUESTED LOC/DME FOR UKIAH TWO TRANSMISSIONS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. INCOMING SCRATCHY/WEAK. APCH WAS FLOWN IN VFR MVFR WITH FSS HDOF RDC OUT OF PROC TURN, SVC TERMINATED. MINIMAL EQUIP ON BOARD WITH INTERMITTENT COM SHOULD HAVE IN MY JUDGEMENT, SUGGESTED DIVERSION TO A VFR FIELD WITH BETTER VIS APCH CONDITIONS. RADIOS AND ANTENNAS WERE EXAMINED, LOOSE (UNLOCKED) BNC CONNECTOR LOCATED AND CORRECTED. APCH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED WITH AVAILABLE EQUIP AND CONDITIONS. ON BOARD LEG FROM 061 TO UKIAH I NOTED SEVERAL ALT EXCURSIONS 100-125' FROM ASSIGNED ALT. NOT COMMON TO MY NORMAL FLT OPS. ALTHOUGH ALL COMS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE FLT WERE NORMAL, ONE ALTIMETER READBACK WAS INCORRECT. HOLDING PATTERN PERFORMANCE WAS ALSO BELOW MY PERSONAL STANDARD ON THE OUTBND LEG OF THIS FLT. FOLLOWING A NORMAL DAY, RETURN LEG WAS W/O EVENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.

Small aircraft accepted an approach clearance knowing that his communication receiver was intermittent.