NDB and VOR failure in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	272901
Time
Date	199405
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : adq
State Reference	AK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan tower : adq
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 48 flight time type : 174
ASRS Report	272901
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Flight started off in VFR conditions. Navaids were working on preflight. Flight time was 3.3 hours. On return trip, we encountered IMC on doing a 180 degree turn. Also encountered IMC, climbed in a 360 degree turn to 5000 ft to VFR on top, 19 mi from a published instrument ILS , VOR, and NDB approachs. Received clearance for an NDB IFR approach. Both vors went out and, on NDB procedure turn outbound, NDB went out. Recommend radar service for safety. In other words, we lost all navigational instruments. Continued procedure turn outbound for 3 mins. No radar service available at kodiak class D airport. DME was only instrument working. Followed published NDB approach on magnetic compass and altitude plus timing only. Ceiling closed from 1300 ft to 700 ft. Ended up breaking out at 700 ft, 200 ft above minimums. Radio communications were maintained throughout approach. Airplane was immediately downed upon landing. 2 passenger were glad to be safely back on ground. No available alternate available within 150 mi. Kodiak islands WX very unpredictable, changes very fast.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NDB AND VOR FAILURE IN IMC.

Narrative: FLT STARTED OFF IN VFR CONDITIONS. NAVAIDS WERE WORKING ON PREFLT. FLT TIME WAS 3.3 HRS. ON RETURN TRIP, WE ENCOUNTERED IMC ON DOING A 180 DEG TURN. ALSO ENCOUNTERED IMC, CLBED IN A 360 DEG TURN TO 5000 FT TO VFR ON TOP, 19 MI FROM A PUBLISHED INST ILS , VOR, AND NDB APCHS. RECEIVED CLRNC FOR AN NDB IFR APCH. BOTH VORS WENT OUT AND, ON NDB PROC TURN OUTBOUND, NDB WENT OUT. RECOMMEND RADAR SVC FOR SAFETY. IN OTHER WORDS, WE LOST ALL NAVIGATIONAL INSTS. CONTINUED PROC TURN OUTBOUND FOR 3 MINS. NO RADAR SVC AVAILABLE AT KODIAK CLASS D ARPT. DME WAS ONLY INST WORKING. FOLLOWED PUBLISHED NDB APCH ON MAGNETIC COMPASS AND ALT PLUS TIMING ONLY. CEILING CLOSED FROM 1300 FT TO 700 FT. ENDED UP BREAKING OUT AT 700 FT, 200 FT ABOVE MINIMUMS. RADIO COMS WERE MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT APCH. AIRPLANE WAS IMMEDIATELY DOWNED UPON LNDG. 2 PAX WERE GLAD TO BE SAFELY BACK ON GND. NO AVAILABLE ALTERNATE AVAILABLE WITHIN 150 MI. KODIAK ISLANDS WX VERY UNPREDICTABLE, CHANGES VERY FAST.

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.