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Atx pilot experiencing radio communication problem on IFR flight attempts descent in less than VMC conditions.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 168001 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199101 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : dru |
| State Reference | MT |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 12000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Small Transport |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : zlc |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| ASRS Report | 168001 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
During a temporary radio failure (partly pilot induced) while en route from butte to missoula, mt, I deviated from my assigned altitude and descended in VMC conditions in an attempt to comply with part 91.155 (B). I soon determined that I would be unable to maintain VFR, so I returned to my IFR assigned altitude in somewhat marginal VFR conditions. Continuing toward missoula, I solved my radio problems (loose microphone wire and speaker switch off instead of on like I had thought) and reestablished radio contact with salt lake center over drummond. They did not ask for an explanation and I did not offer one to explain where I had been. I feel that the wording of part 91.185 could be changed to allow and even encourage continued no radio flight by IFR rules in anything less than cavu (ceiling and visibility unlimited) conditions.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: ATX PLT EXPERIENCING RADIO COM PROB ON IFR FLT ATTEMPTS DESCENT IN LESS THAN VMC CONDITIONS.
Narrative: DURING A TEMPORARY RADIO FAILURE (PARTLY PLT INDUCED) WHILE ENRTE FROM BUTTE TO MISSOULA, MT, I DEVIATED FROM MY ASSIGNED ALT AND DSNDED IN VMC CONDITIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO COMPLY WITH PART 91.155 (B). I SOON DETERMINED THAT I WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR, SO I RETURNED TO MY IFR ASSIGNED ALT IN SOMEWHAT MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS. CONTINUING TOWARD MISSOULA, I SOLVED MY RADIO PROBS (LOOSE MIC WIRE AND SPEAKER SWITCH OFF INSTEAD OF ON LIKE I HAD THOUGHT) AND REESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH SALT LAKE CTR OVER DRUMMOND. THEY DID NOT ASK FOR AN EXPLANATION AND I DID NOT OFFER ONE TO EXPLAIN WHERE I HAD BEEN. I FEEL THAT THE WORDING OF PART 91.185 COULD BE CHANGED TO ALLOW AND EVEN ENCOURAGE CONTINUED NO RADIO FLT BY IFR RULES IN ANYTHING LESS THAN CAVU (CEILING AND VISIBILITY UNLIMITED) CONDITIONS.
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.