Small aircraft pilot has navcom loosen. Lost communication.

Attributes
ACN	202081
Time
Date	199202
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eno
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5700 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ixd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : dov
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 13 flight time total : 210 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	202081
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was heading southwest on V16 at 6000 ft with strong west crosswind (40 KTS) and strong up and downdrafts with mild chop. My #1 navcom apparently shook loose from its connection and I was not aware I had lost communication with approach. My #2 navcom was already tuned to patuxent river approach and VOR. I became aware that my #1 VOR was inoperative, while attempting to push it back into its mount I descended to 5700 ft and dover approach was trying to contact me. I also had drifted west of V16. After regaining #1 VOR I began a correction back to 6000 ft and V16 centerline. I was handed off to patuxent river approach but was informed I was still west of V16. I added further correction and regained proper orientation with V16. I was not aware of any conflict. When I first became aware of my inoperative navcom I should have switched my #2 navcom to dover approach and then correct #1. I also should have ensured that I didn't descend.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT HAS NAVCOM LOOSEN. LOST COM.

Narrative: I WAS HDG SW ON V16 AT 6000 FT WITH STRONG W XWIND (40 KTS) AND STRONG UP AND DOWNDRAFTS WITH MILD CHOP. MY #1 NAVCOM APPARENTLY SHOOK LOOSE FROM ITS CONNECTION AND I WAS NOT AWARE I HAD LOST COM WITH APCH. MY #2 NAVCOM WAS ALREADY TUNED TO PATUXENT RIVER APCH AND VOR. I BECAME AWARE THAT MY #1 VOR WAS INOP, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUSH IT BACK INTO ITS MOUNT I DSNDED TO 5700 FT AND DOVER APCH WAS TRYING TO CONTACT ME. I ALSO HAD DRIFTED W OF V16. AFTER REGAINING #1 VOR I BEGAN A CORRECTION BACK TO 6000 FT AND V16 CTRLINE. I WAS HANDED OFF TO PATUXENT RIVER APCH BUT WAS INFORMED I WAS STILL W OF V16. I ADDED FURTHER CORRECTION AND REGAINED PROPER ORIENTATION WITH V16. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY CONFLICT. WHEN I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF MY INOP NAVCOM I SHOULD HAVE SWITCHED MY #2 NAVCOM TO DOVER APCH AND THEN CORRECT #1. I ALSO SHOULD HAVE ENSURED THAT I DIDN'T DSND.

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.