Narrative:

While flying wbound direct to anton chico VOR, 82 NM south of lbl VOR, we experienced radar failure in IMC conditions. We requested vectors for WX avoidance several times, but although center could hear us, we could not hear them until several mins later. We encountered heavy rain and severe turbulence, resulting in a 90 KT airspeed loss. We transmitted on center frequency that we were unable to maintain altitude. We subsequently lost 1500 ft before exiting the turbulence. As we climbed back to assigned altitude, radio reception was regained. Center then cleared us to deviate as necessary and descend as low as FL310 if necessary. They also advised us that they had been receiving us continuously, and that they had been attempting to reply.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A WDB CREW LOST COM RADAR AT 1500 FT WHILE IN A TSTM AREA.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING WBOUND DIRECT TO ANTON CHICO VOR, 82 NM S OF LBL VOR, WE EXPERIENCED RADAR FAILURE IN IMC CONDITIONS. WE REQUESTED VECTORS FOR WX AVOIDANCE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT ALTHOUGH CTR COULD HEAR US, WE COULD NOT HEAR THEM UNTIL SEVERAL MINS LATER. WE ENCOUNTERED HVY RAIN AND SEVERE TURB, RESULTING IN A 90 KT AIRSPD LOSS. WE XMITTED ON CTR FREQ THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT. WE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST 1500 FT BEFORE EXITING THE TURB. AS WE CLBED BACK TO ASSIGNED ALT, RADIO RECEPTION WAS REGAINED. CTR THEN CLRED US TO DEVIATE AS NECESSARY AND DSND AS LOW AS FL310 IF NECESSARY. THEY ALSO ADVISED US THAT THEY HAD BEEN RECEIVING US CONTINUOUSLY, AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO REPLY.

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.