Narrative:

[My aircraft is a] BE36/G IFR equipped with 3 VHF radios and 2 GPS garmin 430/530 and FM radar/weather depiction plus ipad GPS/weather. Route [to mbl] filed [with] duats. Clearance from flt service by cell phone plane hookup. I called friends living near mbl to see if a large thunderstorm line west of them was nearing the airport. The latest airport weather depicted a pickup in winds and change in direction. I was not able to make contact and after several tries returned to [ATC frequency]. I reported back on with a radio check and the controller said; 'are you back up?'; and I responded to the affirmative and apologized for being gone for 8-10 mins. I had intended to get back quicker. After that exchange I heard nothing for about another 10 mins so I asked for a radio check with no response. I tried several times; went back to the old freq; no response. I then went through frequency boxes on the low alt IFR charts. No response from any. I also asked if any aircraft read my transmission. I looked up south bend approach on my approach plates and called and got an immediate response. I told him I had been out of communications for about 30 mins and asked him to take over comm or get me a frequency. He then asked me if I was pilot in command of the aircraft and had I been the entire flight. I answered in the affirmative. Since this was an unusual question I asked if there was a problem and was told no. Normal flight comm/navigation for rest of the trip. Before landing I was asked to contact center for a possible deviation report. At no time during my flight did I deviate from a clearance or altitude issued in a clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE36 pilot reported losing ATC communication for about 30 minutes during his flight.

Narrative: [My aircraft is a] BE36/G IFR equipped with 3 VHF radios and 2 GPS Garmin 430/530 and FM radar/weather depiction plus iPad GPS/weather. Route [to MBL] filed [with] DUATS. Clearance from Flt Service by cell phone plane hookup. I called friends living near MBL to see if a large thunderstorm line west of them was nearing the airport. The latest airport weather depicted a pickup in winds and change in direction. I was not able to make contact and after several tries returned to [ATC frequency]. I reported back on with a radio check and the controller said; 'Are you back up?'; and I responded to the affirmative and apologized for being gone for 8-10 mins. I had intended to get back quicker. After that exchange I heard nothing for about another 10 mins so I asked for a radio check with no response. I tried several times; went back to the old freq; no response. I then went through frequency boxes on the low alt IFR charts. No response from any. I also asked if any aircraft read my transmission. I looked up South Bend Approach on my approach plates and called and got an immediate response. I told him I had been out of communications for about 30 mins and asked him to take over comm or get me a frequency. He then asked me if I was pilot in command of the aircraft and had I been the entire flight. I answered in the affirmative. Since this was an unusual question I asked if there was a problem and was told no. Normal flight comm/navigation for rest of the trip. Before landing I was asked to contact Center for a possible deviation report. At no time during my flight did I deviate from a clearance or altitude issued in a clearance.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.