Cpr small transport radio equipment problem and altitude deviation overshot during descent.

Attributes
ACN	141788
Time
Date	199004
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bal
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : lax
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7600 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	141788
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While en route from aby to teb I experienced radio failure as I was being turned over to ZDC on frequency 132.52 VHF. I could not establish contact on that frequency, so I attempted to return to bwi approach control, but could not raise them. I then tried ZDC again, but couldn't raise them. When I tried to reestablish contact with bwi approach, I had flown out of their area. I then went to publications for another frequency. I systematically tried each listed frequency. It was shortly afterward I discovered that the avionic circuit breaker had popped. I rest it and established radio contact with ny approach control on 121.5. Ny assigned me their approach frequencys. The audio was very scratchy (unclear). During this period I didn't receive the proper altimeter setting (I set 29:88), but was corrected by ny approach to 29:28. During that period I descended below my assigned altitude of 4000'. Also during approach I was later assigned 3000' until reaching the IAF. I heard 2000' and started descending to that altitude, but approach clarified the altitude of 3000', which I returned to. The circuit breaker popped again (twice) during the approach. I kept the radios on by holding the circuit breaker in with my hand. The next day, when the radio shop opened, I had the radios checked. The cause was a faulty circuit that caused the circuit breaker to pop. It has been corrected.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR SMT RADIO EQUIPMENT PROBLEM AND ALT DEVIATION OVERSHOT DURING DESCENT.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM ABY TO TEB I EXPERIENCED RADIO FAILURE AS I WAS BEING TURNED OVER TO ZDC ON FREQ 132.52 VHF. I COULD NOT ESTABLISH CONTACT ON THAT FREQ, SO I ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO BWI APCH CTL, BUT COULD NOT RAISE THEM. I THEN TRIED ZDC AGAIN, BUT COULDN'T RAISE THEM. WHEN I TRIED TO REESTABLISH CONTACT WITH BWI APCH, I HAD FLOWN OUT OF THEIR AREA. I THEN WENT TO PUBLICATIONS FOR ANOTHER FREQ. I SYSTEMATICALLY TRIED EACH LISTED FREQ. IT WAS SHORTLY AFTERWARD I DISCOVERED THAT THE AVIONIC CB HAD POPPED. I REST IT AND ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH NY APCH CTL ON 121.5. NY ASSIGNED ME THEIR APCH FREQS. THE AUDIO WAS VERY SCRATCHY (UNCLEAR). DURING THIS PERIOD I DIDN'T RECEIVE THE PROPER ALTIMETER SETTING (I SET 29:88), BUT WAS CORRECTED BY NY APCH TO 29:28. DURING THAT PERIOD I DSNDED BELOW MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000'. ALSO DURING APCH I WAS LATER ASSIGNED 3000' UNTIL REACHING THE IAF. I HEARD 2000' AND STARTED DSNDING TO THAT ALT, BUT APCH CLARIFIED THE ALT OF 3000', WHICH I RETURNED TO. THE CB POPPED AGAIN (TWICE) DURING THE APCH. I KEPT THE RADIOS ON BY HOLDING THE CB IN WITH MY HAND. THE NEXT DAY, WHEN THE RADIO SHOP OPENED, I HAD THE RADIOS CHKED. THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY CIRCUIT THAT CAUSED THE CB TO POP. IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

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.