Narrative:

On IFR training flight, we were being vectored for an ILS approach in IMC. We had been experiencing intermittent radio problems earlier in the flight, so when the ADF indicated that we were a little past the point where we would normally be turned onto base, we asked approach control for a radio check. After we got no response on that or on any of several other approach frequencys, we squawked 7700 and turned directly to the outer compass locator from which the approach begins. Based on elapsed time, we knew that we were still inside the 25 NM circle which defines the MSA, and our altitude was equal to the MSA in our area, so terrain clearance was still assured. After one min we squawked 7600. We also broadcast in the blind that we were proceeding direct to the LOM and planned to execute the procedure turn and complete the ILS approach. Before we reached the LOM, we re-established contact by manipulating the phone jack connection. Approach control expressed their appreciation for our blind broadcast, and cleared us for the approach. We executed the approach and landed uneventfully. This situation illustrated the importance of position awareness, and immediate working knowledge of lost communications procedures. After we landed, approach control telephoned us to inquire why we had not turned in sooner. Because we were not DME equipped, we had only the ADF to identify our position. I feel that under the circumstances, I as PIC took the appropriate action in accordance with far part 91, and under similar circumstances, would take exactly the same course of action.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER LOSING COM, SMA COMMENCES APCH AFTER TRANSMITTING HIS INTENTIONS IN THE BLIND.

Narrative: ON IFR TRNING FLT, WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS APCH IN IMC. WE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT RADIO PROBS EARLIER IN THE FLT, SO WHEN THE ADF INDICATED THAT WE WERE A LITTLE PAST THE POINT WHERE WE WOULD NORMALLY BE TURNED ONTO BASE, WE ASKED APCH CTL FOR A RADIO CHK. AFTER WE GOT NO RESPONSE ON THAT OR ON ANY OF SEVERAL OTHER APCH FREQS, WE SQUAWKED 7700 AND TURNED DIRECTLY TO THE OUTER COMPASS LOCATOR FROM WHICH THE APCH BEGINS. BASED ON ELAPSED TIME, WE KNEW THAT WE WERE STILL INSIDE THE 25 NM CIRCLE WHICH DEFINES THE MSA, AND OUR ALT WAS EQUAL TO THE MSA IN OUR AREA, SO TERRAIN CLRNC WAS STILL ASSURED. AFTER ONE MIN WE SQUAWKED 7600. WE ALSO BROADCAST IN THE BLIND THAT WE WERE PROCEEDING DIRECT TO THE LOM AND PLANNED TO EXECUTE THE PROC TURN AND COMPLETE THE ILS APCH. BEFORE WE REACHED THE LOM, WE RE-ESTABLISHED CONTACT BY MANIPULATING THE PHONE JACK CONNECTION. APCH CTL EXPRESSED THEIR APPRECIATION FOR OUR BLIND BROADCAST, AND CLRED US FOR THE APCH. WE EXECUTED THE APCH AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. THIS SITUATION ILLUSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE OF POS AWARENESS, AND IMMEDIATE WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF LOST COMS PROCS. AFTER WE LANDED, APCH CTL TELEPHONED US TO INQUIRE WHY WE HAD NOT TURNED IN SOONER. BECAUSE WE WERE NOT DME EQUIPPED, WE HAD ONLY THE ADF TO IDENTIFY OUR POS. I FEEL THAT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I AS PIC TOOK THE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR PART 91, AND UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, WOULD TAKE EXACTLY THE SAME COURSE OF ACTION.

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.