GA small transport communication failure on IFR flight to jfk.

Attributes
ACN	137837
Time
Date	199002
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6600 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	137837
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was PIC on an IFR flight from (yul) montreal, canada to (jfk) new york, ny, an aircraft operated under part 91 for this flight. The flight progressed normally prior to entering the new york approach area. Approximately 42 mi from jfk on V44 northwest of the bridgeport VOR, I lost all communication radios and #1 and #2 navigation systems. The only navigation equipment that functioned at this time was the ADF set. I had a clearance limit to jfk for an ILS approach to runway 04R. At this time I could no longer fly my cleared route. With only the ADF equipment still operational I elected to fly to the outer compass beacon at jfk for the 04R runway. WX at this time was 300 sky obscured 1/2 to 1 mi. After 40 min of flight time in and around the beacon, #1 communication radio and #2 VOR receiver came back in operation. I contacted jfk approach and made them aware of my communication/navigation status and requested an immediate approach to the 04R ILS. A normal approach and landing followed. I feel that a lighting strike in the vicinity of my route of flight entered the avionics compartment causing this difficulty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMT COM FAILURE ON IFR FLT TO JFK.

Narrative: I WAS PIC ON AN IFR FLT FROM (YUL) MONTREAL, CANADA TO (JFK) NEW YORK, NY, AN ACFT OPERATED UNDER PART 91 FOR THIS FLT. THE FLT PROGRESSED NORMALLY PRIOR TO ENTERING THE NEW YORK APCH AREA. APPROX 42 MI FROM JFK ON V44 NW OF THE BRIDGEPORT VOR, I LOST ALL COM RADIOS AND #1 AND #2 NAVIGATION SYSTEMS. THE ONLY NAV EQUIPMENT THAT FUNCTIONED AT THIS TIME WAS THE ADF SET. I HAD A CLRNC LIMIT TO JFK FOR AN ILS APCH TO RWY 04R. AT THIS TIME I COULD NO LONGER FLY MY CLRED ROUTE. WITH ONLY THE ADF EQUIPMENT STILL OPERATIONAL I ELECTED TO FLY TO THE OUTER COMPASS BEACON AT JFK FOR THE 04R RWY. WX AT THIS TIME WAS 300 SKY OBSCURED 1/2 TO 1 MI. AFTER 40 MIN OF FLT TIME IN AND AROUND THE BEACON, #1 COM RADIO AND #2 VOR RECEIVER CAME BACK IN OPERATION. I CONTACTED JFK APCH AND MADE THEM AWARE OF MY COM/NAV STATUS AND REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE APCH TO THE 04R ILS. A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG FOLLOWED. I FEEL THAT A LIGHTING STRIKE IN THE VICINITY OF MY ROUTE OF FLT ENTERED THE AVIONICS COMPARTMENT CAUSING THIS DIFFICULTY.

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