A C210 pilot distraction by a navigation task entered IMC and was unable to contact ATC. He complete...

Attributes
ACN	660801
Time
Date	200506
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ahc.vor
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 8 flight time total : 1900 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	660801
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

At approximately XA00 on jun/fri/05; I was plting a cessna turbo 210 in an area west of amedee VOR (ahc). I was climbing through a scattered to broken layer of cloud; operating under VFR and maintaining appropriate clearance from clouds. During the climb; I became distraction by a malfunctioning #1 navigation communication. I was using my #2 navigation communication to triangulate for my position. During the period of distraction; the cloud layer became more broken than scattered. I maneuvered to maintain VMC and made the decision to climb through a break in the layer. I knew that the WX to the west of my position was clear with unlimited visibility. I was unable to maintain the climb through the break and entered IMC as a result. I immediately attempted to contact ATC for assistance but was unable to establish contact. When I did not break out immediately from the IMC and because I was unable to establish radio communication with ATC; I contacted guard on 121.5 for assistance. I executed a 180 degree turn and returned to VMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C210 PLT DISTR BY A NAV TASK ENTERED IMC AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT ATC. HE COMPLETED A 180 DEG TURN TO VMC AND CALLED ATC ON 121.5.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA00 ON JUN/FRI/05; I WAS PLTING A CESSNA TURBO 210 IN AN AREA W OF AMEDEE VOR (AHC). I WAS CLBING THROUGH A SCATTERED TO BROKEN LAYER OF CLOUD; OPERATING UNDER VFR AND MAINTAINING APPROPRIATE CLRNC FROM CLOUDS. DURING THE CLB; I BECAME DISTR BY A MALFUNCTIONING #1 NAV COM. I WAS USING MY #2 NAV COM TO TRIANGULATE FOR MY POS. DURING THE PERIOD OF DISTR; THE CLOUD LAYER BECAME MORE BROKEN THAN SCATTERED. I MANEUVERED TO MAINTAIN VMC AND MADE THE DECISION TO CLB THROUGH A BREAK IN THE LAYER. I KNEW THAT THE WX TO THE W OF MY POS WAS CLR WITH UNLIMITED VISIBILITY. I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CLB THROUGH THE BREAK AND ENTERED IMC AS A RESULT. I IMMEDIATELY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ATC FOR ASSISTANCE BUT WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT. WHEN I DID NOT BREAK OUT IMMEDIATELY FROM THE IMC AND BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH RADIO COM WITH ATC; I CONTACTED GUARD ON 121.5 FOR ASSISTANCE. I EXECUTED A 180 DEG TURN AND RETURNED TO VMC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

A C210 pilot distraction by a navigation task entered IMC and was unable to contact ATC. He completed a 180 degree turn to VMC and called ATC on 121.5.