Narrative:

While preparing for approximately 12 mi flight to hfd for avionics repair work; experienced complete loss of communications radio system -- could not transmit or receive; although navigation equipment and transponder still functional. Obtained hfd tower telephone number from FBO and contacted tower to request no radio approach (visual) and landing at hfd. Tower controller stated that they could pick me up on radar after takeoff and would be prepared for my arrival. I reminded him I could neither receive nor transmit communications. He then asked if I had a cell phone; to which I replied affirmatively. He suggested I call in the air just prior to arrival. After takeoff; and approximately 5 mi from hfd I called the tower; however I could not make contact; my cell indicated 'number not available' and would not connect. After 4 or 5 tries I proceeded overhead the field above pattern altitude and then passed the tower looking for light signals. I did not see any signals; and then proceeded downwind; turned a right base; and landed. I observed no other aircraft in the traffic pattern. After landing and exiting the runway; I did receive a light signal from the tower as I passed on the taxiway; and proceeded to the ramp under the flashing green signal. After shutdown; I exited the aircraft and immediately called the tower. I explained the problem with the cell phone and described my actions. The tower controller appeared to understand the situation and agreed that we should have had a plan B in the event of failure to make contact by cell phone.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MULTI-ENG PVT PLT HAS COM FAILURE AND LANDS WITHOUT PROPER LIGHT SIGNALS.

Narrative: WHILE PREPARING FOR APPROX 12 MI FLT TO HFD FOR AVIONICS REPAIR WORK; EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF COMS RADIO SYS -- COULD NOT XMIT OR RECEIVE; ALTHOUGH NAV EQUIP AND XPONDER STILL FUNCTIONAL. OBTAINED HFD TWR TELEPHONE NUMBER FROM FBO AND CONTACTED TWR TO REQUEST NO RADIO APCH (VISUAL) AND LNDG AT HFD. TWR CTLR STATED THAT THEY COULD PICK ME UP ON RADAR AFTER TKOF AND WOULD BE PREPARED FOR MY ARR. I REMINDED HIM I COULD NEITHER RECEIVE NOR XMIT COMS. HE THEN ASKED IF I HAD A CELL PHONE; TO WHICH I REPLIED AFFIRMATIVELY. HE SUGGESTED I CALL IN THE AIR JUST PRIOR TO ARR. AFTER TKOF; AND APPROX 5 MI FROM HFD I CALLED THE TWR; HOWEVER I COULD NOT MAKE CONTACT; MY CELL INDICATED 'NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE' AND WOULD NOT CONNECT. AFTER 4 OR 5 TRIES I PROCEEDED OVERHEAD THE FIELD ABOVE PATTERN ALT AND THEN PASSED THE TWR LOOKING FOR LIGHT SIGNALS. I DID NOT SEE ANY SIGNALS; AND THEN PROCEEDED DOWNWIND; TURNED A R BASE; AND LANDED. I OBSERVED NO OTHER ACFT IN THE TFC PATTERN. AFTER LNDG AND EXITING THE RWY; I DID RECEIVE A LIGHT SIGNAL FROM THE TWR AS I PASSED ON THE TXWY; AND PROCEEDED TO THE RAMP UNDER THE FLASHING GREEN SIGNAL. AFTER SHUTDOWN; I EXITED THE ACFT AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE TWR. I EXPLAINED THE PROB WITH THE CELL PHONE AND DESCRIBED MY ACTIONS. THE TWR CTLR APPEARED TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION AND AGREED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A PLAN B IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE TO MAKE CONTACT BY CELL PHONE.

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.