Non-standard communications during no-gyro approach.

Attributes
ACN	284048
Time
Date	199409
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mht
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mht
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 875 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	284048
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

My IFR flight plan consisted of 1 ILS approach at mht and a return to ash for an ILS runway 14 full stop. I departed ash with everything working for a low IFR training lesson. After completing on ILS runway 35 mht to a full stop. I departed for nashua. After takeoff, approximately 1500 ft MSL, ATC advised they had been trying to contact me. This is when I realized that when I tried to identify the ILS at ash, it cut out my communications with approach. A few moments later, I noted my compass was giving me erroneous indications and I was unable to set my heading indicator. I informed ATC of my situation and they offered me a no gyro approach, which I accepted. I was familiar with the procedures, such as, 1/2 standard rate turns when on the approach and standard rate turns otherwise, but I was not sure if I should read back the turn instructions. With safety in mind I elected to read back instructions. ATC made no indication that I was performing inaccurately so I continued. After the flight was over I consulted many instructors on the subject and found I should have simply complied with ATC instructions with no communication. In the future, I suggest ATC inform a pilot if he is communicating inaccurately.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON-STANDARD COMS DURING NO-GYRO APCH.

Narrative: MY IFR FLT PLAN CONSISTED OF 1 ILS APCH AT MHT AND A RETURN TO ASH FOR AN ILS RWY 14 FULL STOP. I DEPARTED ASH WITH EVERYTHING WORKING FOR A LOW IFR TRAINING LESSON. AFTER COMPLETING ON ILS RWY 35 MHT TO A FULL STOP. I DEPARTED FOR NASHUA. AFTER TKOF, APPROX 1500 FT MSL, ATC ADVISED THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT ME. THIS IS WHEN I REALIZED THAT WHEN I TRIED TO IDENT THE ILS AT ASH, IT CUT OUT MY COMS WITH APCH. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, I NOTED MY COMPASS WAS GIVING ME ERRONEOUS INDICATIONS AND I WAS UNABLE TO SET MY HDG INDICATOR. I INFORMED ATC OF MY SIT AND THEY OFFERED ME A NO GYRO APCH, WHICH I ACCEPTED. I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCS, SUCH AS, 1/2 STANDARD RATE TURNS WHEN ON THE APCH AND STANDARD RATE TURNS OTHERWISE, BUT I WAS NOT SURE IF I SHOULD READ BACK THE TURN INSTRUCTIONS. WITH SAFETY IN MIND I ELECTED TO READ BACK INSTRUCTIONS. ATC MADE NO INDICATION THAT I WAS PERFORMING INACCURATELY SO I CONTINUED. AFTER THE FLT WAS OVER I CONSULTED MANY INSTRUCTORS ON THE SUBJECT AND FOUND I SHOULD HAVE SIMPLY COMPLIED WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS WITH NO COM. IN THE FUTURE, I SUGGEST ATC INFORM A PLT IF HE IS COMMUNICATING INACCURATELY.

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.