Private pilot of small aircraft experienced radio communication problem.

Attributes
ACN	125622
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mco
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
ASRS Report	125622
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

On oct/sat/1989, at approximately XA45, in flight I changed the one radio aboard from navigation to communication. I dialed in orlando approach and attempted to turn the volume up. The knob came off in my hand. The set screw had loosened. I attempted to turn the spindle but it was too small. It was getting dark. I immediately turned back to navigation and set a 120 degree course outbnd from the ocala VOR to sanford, outside the arsa. I identified and passed north of the leesburg airport as I continued toward the sanford airport. As the flight progressed I searched the horizon for the sanford beacon where I intended to set up a 152 degree course to the west of melbourne into sebastian. I finally saw a beacon off my right wing at 1 O'clock. Thinking it to be the sanford beacon, I headed toward it. Too late, I believe I identified the orlando downtown and several mi south and west, the orlando int'l. I immediately turned to a 90 degree heading out of the arsa and perhaps the air traffic area, then down the coast west of the melbourne air traffic area into sebastian. I must not swear, but I promise that I shall never, never leave the ground again in another aircraft without a backup communication and hopefully a LORAN.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRIVATE PLT OF SMA EXPERIENCED RADIO COM PROBLEM.

Narrative: ON OCT/SAT/1989, AT APPROX XA45, IN FLT I CHANGED THE ONE RADIO ABOARD FROM NAV TO COM. I DIALED IN ORLANDO APCH AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VOLUME UP. THE KNOB CAME OFF IN MY HAND. THE SET SCREW HAD LOOSENED. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE SPINDLE BUT IT WAS TOO SMALL. IT WAS GETTING DARK. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK TO NAV AND SET A 120 DEG COURSE OUTBND FROM THE OCALA VOR TO SANFORD, OUTSIDE THE ARSA. I IDENTIFIED AND PASSED N OF THE LEESBURG ARPT AS I CONTINUED TOWARD THE SANFORD ARPT. AS THE FLT PROGRESSED I SEARCHED THE HORIZON FOR THE SANFORD BEACON WHERE I INTENDED TO SET UP A 152 DEG COURSE TO THE W OF MELBOURNE INTO SEBASTIAN. I FINALLY SAW A BEACON OFF MY RIGHT WING AT 1 O'CLOCK. THINKING IT TO BE THE SANFORD BEACON, I HEADED TOWARD IT. TOO LATE, I BELIEVE I IDENTIFIED THE ORLANDO DOWNTOWN AND SEVERAL MI S AND W, THE ORLANDO INT'L. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO A 90 DEG HDG OUT OF THE ARSA AND PERHAPS THE ATA, THEN DOWN THE COAST W OF THE MELBOURNE ATA INTO SEBASTIAN. I MUST NOT SWEAR, BUT I PROMISE THAT I SHALL NEVER, NEVER LEAVE THE GND AGAIN IN ANOTHER ACFT WITHOUT A BACKUP COM AND HOPEFULLY A LORAN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.