Small aircraft X entered class D airspace without clearance after transmitter failed.

Attributes
ACN	294367
Time
Date	199501
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fty
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : fty tower : cof
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 44 flight time total : 47 flight time type : 47
ASRS Report	294367
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	294367
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departed ryy en route to fty. When I called for radio check, I received 'loud and clear.' radio was receiving fine. When I called county tower from over the tauk farm (10 mi), I again heard what I thought was a response (in retrospect, I believe the tower was talking to another aircraft). When I neared the field, having descended to 2000 ft and had still received no further instructions, I again tried to call the tower, but received no response. All the time I could hear the tower talking to other aircraft. Leaving 2000 ft for 2500 ft I began to circle west of the field while trying to contact the tower. I plugged and unplugged the microphone, trying different jacks under panel -- still no contact. Finally, I decided to return to ryy and crossed fty midfield at 2500 ft. I could hear the controller warning other pilots of my presence as I departed to the north. Back at ryy I attempted to contact local traffic to no avail. After listening to determine the level of activity in the pattern, I entered the base leg for runway 9 and landed without incident. In the future, I will be much more careful as a student to make sure the tower is talking directly to me.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA X ENTERED CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC AFTER XMITTER FAILED.

Narrative: DEPARTED RYY ENRTE TO FTY. WHEN I CALLED FOR RADIO CHK, I RECEIVED 'LOUD AND CLR.' RADIO WAS RECEIVING FINE. WHEN I CALLED COUNTY TWR FROM OVER THE TAUK FARM (10 MI), I AGAIN HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A RESPONSE (IN RETROSPECT, I BELIEVE THE TWR WAS TALKING TO ANOTHER ACFT). WHEN I NEARED THE FIELD, HAVING DSNDED TO 2000 FT AND HAD STILL RECEIVED NO FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, I AGAIN TRIED TO CALL THE TWR, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. ALL THE TIME I COULD HEAR THE TWR TALKING TO OTHER ACFT. LEAVING 2000 FT FOR 2500 FT I BEGAN TO CIRCLE W OF THE FIELD WHILE TRYING TO CONTACT THE TWR. I PLUGGED AND UNPLUGGED THE MIKE, TRYING DIFFERENT JACKS UNDER PANEL -- STILL NO CONTACT. FINALLY, I DECIDED TO RETURN TO RYY AND CROSSED FTY MIDFIELD AT 2500 FT. I COULD HEAR THE CTLR WARNING OTHER PLTS OF MY PRESENCE AS I DEPARTED TO THE N. BACK AT RYY I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT LCL TFC TO NO AVAIL. AFTER LISTENING TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY IN THE PATTERN, I ENTERED THE BASE LEG FOR RWY 9 AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE MUCH MORE CAREFUL AS A STUDENT TO MAKE SURE THE TWR IS TALKING DIRECTLY TO ME.

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.