Failure of transponder and number two VHF communications radio cause LJ31 pilot to cancel IFR and di...

Attributes
ACN	810140
Time
Date	200810
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sba.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sba.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Learjet 31
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10278 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	810840
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

As I taxied out and contacted ZZZ ground control; they told me that they could not identify the aircraft by the discrete code. I recycled the transponder several times and eventually ground control was able to identify the airplane. I departed IFR to smo. Immediately after takeoff; the transponder became inoperative again. ZLA acknowledged that they were receiving no transponder code. Even though I was receiving a reply light; I was told by ZLA to squawk 1200 and proceed to smo at flight level 130. Approximately 20 mins after takeoff the #2 radio became inoperative and lost all power. Pressurization appeared to be normal at 13000 ft MSL. Approximately 18 mi from sba; the low fuel light came on. I canceled IFR with ZLA and squawked 1200 and descended into sba airspace; contacted sba approach and requested landing. Approach acknowledged; turned me over to tower. The flight landed safely without any other events.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAILURE OF TRANSPONDER AND NUMBER TWO VHF COMMUNICATIONS RADIO CAUSE LJ31 PILOT TO CANCEL IFR AND DIVERT FOR MAINTENANCE.

Narrative: AS I TAXIED OUT AND CONTACTED ZZZ GND CTL; THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENT THE ACFT BY THE DISCRETE CODE. I RECYCLED THE XPONDER SEVERAL TIMES AND EVENTUALLY GND CTL WAS ABLE TO IDENT THE AIRPLANE. I DEPARTED IFR TO SMO. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF; THE XPONDER BECAME INOP AGAIN. ZLA ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE RECEIVING NO XPONDER CODE. EVEN THOUGH I WAS RECEIVING A REPLY LIGHT; I WAS TOLD BY ZLA TO SQUAWK 1200 AND PROCEED TO SMO AT FLT LEVEL 130. APPROX 20 MINS AFTER TKOF THE #2 RADIO BECAME INOP AND LOST ALL PWR. PRESSURIZATION APPEARED TO BE NORMAL AT 13000 FT MSL. APPROX 18 MI FROM SBA; THE LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON. I CANCELED IFR WITH ZLA AND SQUAWKED 1200 AND DSNDED INTO SBA AIRSPACE; CONTACTED SBA APCH AND REQUESTED LNDG. APCH ACKNOWLEDGED; TURNED ME OVER TO TWR. THE FLT LANDED SAFELY WITHOUT ANY OTHER EVENTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

Failure of transponder and number two VHF communications radio cause LJ31 pilot to cancel IFR and divert for maintenance.