<< >> NASA ASRS Report 146454, May 1990

Small transport in cruise flight experiences complete failure of #1 navcom and partial failure of #2 and returns to base with ATC assistance.

Attributes
ACN	146454
Time
Date	199005
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : etx
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v39
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19 flight time total : 980 flight time type : 19
ASRS Report	146454
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While on an IFR flight from mmu to cho while approaching the etx VOR my #1 VOR and communication completely malfunctioned (no audio or navigation indications). I switched to my #2 comm immediately started to act up and was unable to provide reliable navigation. After drifting off the arwy, I advised /requested to abort this flight to cho and requested radar vectors back to mmu where I was able to land under VFR conditions. These radios had been in the local avionics shop 4 times in the last 2 weeks for repair and alignment, for similar malfunctions, yet were returned 'serviceable'. My corrective action has been to purchase a new replacement radio.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT IN CRUISE FLT EXPERIENCES COMPLETE FAILURE OF #1 NAVCOM AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF #2 AND RETURNS TO BASE WITH ATC ASSISTANCE.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT FROM MMU TO CHO WHILE APCHING THE ETX VOR MY #1 VOR AND COM COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED (NO AUDIO OR NAV INDICATIONS). I SWITCHED TO MY #2 COMM IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO ACT UP AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE RELIABLE NAV. AFTER DRIFTING OFF THE ARWY, I ADVISED /REQUESTED TO ABORT THIS FLT TO CHO AND REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS BACK TO MMU WHERE I WAS ABLE TO LAND UNDER VFR CONDITIONS. THESE RADIOS HAD BEEN IN THE LCL AVIONICS SHOP 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WKS FOR REPAIR AND ALIGNMENT, FOR SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS, YET WERE RETURNED 'SERVICEABLE'. MY CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN TO PURCHASE A NEW REPLACEMENT RADIO.

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.