<< >> NASA ASRS Report 533785, December 2001

C172 pilot lost communications during IFR terminal en route causing him to broadcast in the blind until the communications were re-established over the terminal VOR.

Attributes
ACN	533785
Time
Date	200112
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : gilro
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 63 flight time total : 717 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	533785
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : com radio other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I departed mry direct sns then turned toward gilro via sns 347 degree radial. I reached 6000 ft as assigned. Before reaching gilro, I was vectored 290 degrees and descend to 5500 ft, which I did. About 23 DME from sjc, all communication from bay approach was unreadable. I asked them if they could read me. Though I could vaguely tell the controller was calling me, I couldn't understand what he was saying. I broadcasted in the blind my intentions to go direct sjc VOR (about 330 degree heading) at 5500 ft, then continued the pao VOR DME approach. About 3 DME from sjc, the radio came back. I was cleared to cross sjc at 3000 ft and then 2000 ft and then the pao VOR DME approach. My only guess as to the problem was static buildup, so I will get static wicks installed -- though this has not happened before.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT LOST COMS DURING IFR TERMINAL ENRTE CAUSING HIM TO BROADCAST IN THE BLIND UNTIL THE COMS WERE RE-ESTABLISHED OVER THE TERMINAL VOR.

Narrative: I DEPARTED MRY DIRECT SNS THEN TURNED TOWARD GILRO VIA SNS 347 DEG RADIAL. I REACHED 6000 FT AS ASSIGNED. BEFORE REACHING GILRO, I WAS VECTORED 290 DEGS AND DSND TO 5500 FT, WHICH I DID. ABOUT 23 DME FROM SJC, ALL COM FROM BAY APCH WAS UNREADABLE. I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD READ ME. THOUGH I COULD VAGUELY TELL THE CTLR WAS CALLING ME, I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING. I BROADCASTED IN THE BLIND MY INTENTIONS TO GO DIRECT SJC VOR (ABOUT 330 DEG HDG) AT 5500 FT, THEN CONTINUED THE PAO VOR DME APCH. ABOUT 3 DME FROM SJC, THE RADIO CAME BACK. I WAS CLRED TO CROSS SJC AT 3000 FT AND THEN 2000 FT AND THEN THE PAO VOR DME APCH. MY ONLY GUESS AS TO THE PROB WAS STATIC BUILDUP, SO I WILL GET STATIC WICKS INSTALLED -- THOUGH THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE.

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.