C152 instructor and student have VHF communication radio failure. They squawk the appropriate no com...

Attributes
ACN	557229
Time
Date	200208
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msn.airport
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl single value : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : msn.tower tower : ebbr.tower
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 194 flight time total : 1169 flight time type : 255
ASRS Report	557229
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : tower brite radar other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Aircraft Company Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Departed msn class C airspace with student pilot for a satellite airport outside msn class C airspace. Upon return flight, approaching msn class C airspace, determined that 2-WAY radio had failed. Squawked 7600 on transponder, observed reply, and proceeded to msn airport. As we reached visual range with the control tower, observed green light gun signal for landing and landed. Called tower controller via telephone to explain situation and was told of msn class C airspace violation. Referenced 2002 far-aim to check if airspace violation was correct. Aim 6-4-1 regarding lost communications indicates that failure of 2-WAY radios in VFR conditions 'each pilot shall continue the flight under VFR and land as soon as practical.' far 91.130 indicates that aircraft approaching class C airspace must 'establish 2-WAY radio communications with the ATC facility providing air traffic services prior to entering that airspace and thereafter maintain those communications while within that airspace.' I understand that far's are regulatory and that the aim is not. However, I believe that the aim should refer back to far regulation 91.130 since it contradicts what is indicated in the aim section giving guidance about 2-WAY radio communication failures. By definition it appears as if a mode C transponder could be interpreted to be a 2-WAY radio.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C152 INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT HAVE VHF COM RADIO FAILURE. THEY SQUAWK THE APPROPRIATE NO COM XPONDER CODE AND TWR GAVE A GREEN LIGHT FOR LNDG.

Narrative: DEPARTED MSN CLASS C AIRSPACE WITH STUDENT PLT FOR A SATELLITE ARPT OUTSIDE MSN CLASS C AIRSPACE. UPON RETURN FLT, APCHING MSN CLASS C AIRSPACE, DETERMINED THAT 2-WAY RADIO HAD FAILED. SQUAWKED 7600 ON XPONDER, OBSERVED REPLY, AND PROCEEDED TO MSN ARPT. AS WE REACHED VISUAL RANGE WITH THE CTL TWR, OBSERVED GREEN LIGHT GUN SIGNAL FOR LNDG AND LANDED. CALLED TWR CTLR VIA TELEPHONE TO EXPLAIN SIT AND WAS TOLD OF MSN CLASS C AIRSPACE VIOLATION. REFED 2002 FAR-AIM TO CHK IF AIRSPACE VIOLATION WAS CORRECT. AIM 6-4-1 REGARDING LOST COMS INDICATES THAT FAILURE OF 2-WAY RADIOS IN VFR CONDITIONS 'EACH PLT SHALL CONTINUE THE FLT UNDER VFR AND LAND AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.' FAR 91.130 INDICATES THAT ACFT APCHING CLASS C AIRSPACE MUST 'ESTABLISH 2-WAY RADIO COMS WITH THE ATC FACILITY PROVIDING AIR TFC SVCS PRIOR TO ENTERING THAT AIRSPACE AND THEREAFTER MAINTAIN THOSE COMS WHILE WITHIN THAT AIRSPACE.' I UNDERSTAND THAT FAR'S ARE REGULATORY AND THAT THE AIM IS NOT. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THE AIM SHOULD REFER BACK TO FAR REG 91.130 SINCE IT CONTRADICTS WHAT IS INDICATED IN THE AIM SECTION GIVING GUIDANCE ABOUT 2-WAY RADIO COM FAILURES. BY DEFINITION IT APPEARS AS IF A MODE C XPONDER COULD BE INTERPRETED TO BE A 2-WAY RADIO.

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.

C152 instructor and student have VHF communication radio failure. They squawk the appropriate no communication transponder code and tower gave a green light for landing.