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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.
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.