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C172 pilot experienced radio failure attempting to enter class B airspace and elected to divert to a smaller airport. A pass was made to alert the tower but opposite to the current traffic flow and evasive action was required. The pattern was rejoined in the proper direction and a safe landing ensued. A report from the instructor in the other aircraft in the pattern is also included.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1377299 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201608 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | DA20-C1 Eclipse |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | VHF |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8 Flight Crew Total 74 Flight Crew Type 72 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Instructor Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Total 600 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue |
| Miss Distance | Horizontal 500 Vertical 500 |
Narrative:
I was trying to enter the bravo airspace when my transponder went out and then I lost my radio communication. I turned around to play with my radios but I couldn't get them working. I turned to fly into ZZZ. I turned my transponder to 7600 in case they were getting my transponder code. I couldn't hear any radio transmissions but I did tune ZZZ tower to tell them I was coming. I was getting low on fuel and decided to fly by ZZZ tower and tilt my wings to let them know I was in an emergency.I flew too close to the traffic pattern and in the opposite direction. I saw an airplane in the traffic pattern and had to take evasive action to not hit it. I turned to follow that aircraft into ZZZ after I had cleared the area and made sure no other aircraft were around me. I was able to land safely.however there were a couple of issues and mistakes that I could have handled better this emergency procedure. First I could have flown to the [a different] airport instead. I was unfamiliar though with the area and with low fuel I didn't want to risk flying around trying to find the other airport and run out of fuel. Second I could have flown above the traffic pattern and looked at which way the traffic pattern was and how many aircraft were in the pattern. Then I could have entered the pattern a bit more safely than I did today. I also should have done a better job at scanning the air for traffic.I do realize that I made a mistake and put other aircraft at risk. I should have had better judgment handling this lost communication emergency. I am going to get some ground and flight training on handling a lost communication emergency and learn what to properly do and how to handle it better.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C172 pilot experienced radio failure attempting to enter Class B airspace and elected to divert to a smaller airport. A pass was made to alert the Tower but opposite to the current traffic flow and evasive action was required. The pattern was rejoined in the proper direction and a safe landing ensued. A report from the instructor in the other aircraft in the pattern is also included.
Narrative: I was trying to enter the Bravo airspace when my transponder went out and then I lost my radio communication. I turned around to play with my radios but I couldn't get them working. I turned to fly into ZZZ. I turned my transponder to 7600 in case they were getting my transponder code. I couldn't hear any radio transmissions but I did tune ZZZ tower to tell them I was coming. I was getting low on fuel and decided to fly by ZZZ tower and tilt my wings to let them know I was in an emergency.I flew too close to the traffic pattern and in the opposite direction. I saw an airplane in the traffic pattern and had to take evasive action to not hit it. I turned to follow that aircraft into ZZZ after I had cleared the area and made sure no other aircraft were around me. I was able to land safely.However there were a couple of issues and mistakes that I could have handled better this emergency procedure. First I could have flown to the [a different] airport instead. I was unfamiliar though with the area and with low fuel I didn't want to risk flying around trying to find the other airport and run out of fuel. Second I could have flown above the traffic pattern and looked at which way the traffic pattern was and how many aircraft were in the pattern. Then I could have entered the pattern a bit more safely than I did today. I also should have done a better job at scanning the air for traffic.I do realize that I made a mistake and put other aircraft at risk. I should have had better judgment handling this lost communication emergency. I am going to get some ground and flight training on handling a lost communication emergency and learn what to properly do and how to handle it better.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.