SR22 pilot suffers intermittent communication with ZNY while flying IFR arrival to 4n1.

Attributes
ACN	709722
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : n90.tracon
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	SR22
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	709722
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : executed missed approach
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Aircraft ATC Facility ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Facility

Narrative:

While on an instrument flight plan from westchester county airport (hpn) to greenwood lake airport (4n1) flying cirrus SR22; encountered numerous instances of loss of radio communication with the ATC controller who was using frequency 120.15; including while being vectored for final approach course for GPS approach into 4n1. ATC's communications on this frequency were often garbled or unreadable. On one such occasion; when I was receiving no response to my radio communications; I managed to hear ATC issue turn instructions and complied. Communication was then intermittent; and lost when below approximately 2500 ft. Last communication heard was to switch to unicom and advise cancellation. However; when due to an inability to see the runway; I was forced to 'go missed.' I was unable to reach new york approach on this frequency to declare 'going missed' until well into the published missed approach procedure. I believe that radio communication on this frequency for airplanes going into 4n1 is unreliable and should be checked in the field. The radios in the airplane were checked by myself and a cfii and determined to be operating properly. On a flight later that day to cdw; attempts were made to communicate with ATC on 120.15 from an altitude of 2000 ft without success.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SR22 PLT SUFFERS INTERMITTENT COM WITH ZNY WHILE FLYING IFR ARR TO 4N1.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN INST FLT PLAN FROM WESTCHESTER COUNTY ARPT (HPN) TO GREENWOOD LAKE ARPT (4N1) FLYING CIRRUS SR22; ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF LOSS OF RADIO COM WITH THE ATC CTLR WHO WAS USING FREQ 120.15; INCLUDING WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR FINAL APCH COURSE FOR GPS APCH INTO 4N1. ATC'S COMS ON THIS FREQ WERE OFTEN GARBLED OR UNREADABLE. ON ONE SUCH OCCASION; WHEN I WAS RECEIVING NO RESPONSE TO MY RADIO COMS; I MANAGED TO HEAR ATC ISSUE TURN INSTRUCTIONS AND COMPLIED. COM WAS THEN INTERMITTENT; AND LOST WHEN BELOW APPROX 2500 FT. LAST COM HEARD WAS TO SWITCH TO UNICOM AND ADVISE CANCELLATION. HOWEVER; WHEN DUE TO AN INABILITY TO SEE THE RWY; I WAS FORCED TO 'GO MISSED.' I WAS UNABLE TO REACH NEW YORK APCH ON THIS FREQ TO DECLARE 'GOING MISSED' UNTIL WELL INTO THE PUBLISHED MISSED APCH PROC. I BELIEVE THAT RADIO COM ON THIS FREQ FOR AIRPLANES GOING INTO 4N1 IS UNRELIABLE AND SHOULD BE CHKED IN THE FIELD. THE RADIOS IN THE AIRPLANE WERE CHKED BY MYSELF AND A CFII AND DETERMINED TO BE OPERATING PROPERLY. ON A FLT LATER THAT DAY TO CDW; ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ATC ON 120.15 FROM AN ALT OF 2000 FT WITHOUT SUCCESS.

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.