Narrative:

I had a pilot briefing with another pilot where we decided to make an IFR departure to VFR on top and ask for a newhall 5 departure palmdale transion for a flight to provo, ut, en route to oshkosh, wi. I had a new plane which I've taken instructor training in VFR and IFR of 8 hours but not solo. Since my training the aircraft has gone through extensive rework, new engine and radio installation. I was a little apprehensive but confident as the overcast was only about 1000 ft thick. I tried to start the engine and it wouldn't start. I had to get a jump start. In the confusion and apprehension I asked clearance delivery for a conago 5 departure (which there is none) and was given conago 7 departure. I asked what difference was between 5 and 7 and was told none (I'm still thinking newhall departure). I might add I've made efr flight from van nuys and I'm very familiar with the system and never had a problem but my mind just wasn't in gear. Adding to the confusion ground control had me taxi into position after about a 20 min wait and then taxi back for another 10 mins. Newhall departure is after takeoff turn left to a heading of 110 degrees for vectors. Conago is a right turn for vectors. After takeoff I turned to a heading of 110 degrees and contacted departure who told me to turn immediately to my right to avoid traffic and a heading I couldn't get because my radio was failing and could hear only part of what the controller was saying. I broke out of the overcast at 3000 ft and cancelled my IFR. I don't know if the controller could here me or not. My radio failed completely about 10 mins later. This could have been avoided had I test flew the aircraft before starting on a long trip or flying IFR to check out the new radio and equipment and will do so in the future.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT CPR PLT EXPERIENCES A HDG TRACK DEV IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH ATC DIRECTIVE DURING DEP PROC. RADIO EQUIP PROBLEM ADDS TO PLT GRIEF.

Narrative: I HAD A PLT BRIEFING WITH ANOTHER PLT WHERE WE DECIDED TO MAKE AN IFR DEP TO VFR ON TOP AND ASK FOR A NEWHALL 5 DEP PALMDALE TRANSION FOR A FLT TO PROVO, UT, ENRTE TO OSHKOSH, WI. I HAD A NEW PLANE WHICH I'VE TAKEN INSTRUCTOR TRAINING IN VFR AND IFR OF 8 HRS BUT NOT SOLO. SINCE MY TRAINING THE ACFT HAS GONE THROUGH EXTENSIVE REWORK, NEW ENG AND RADIO INSTALLATION. I WAS A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE BUT CONFIDENT AS THE OVCST WAS ONLY ABOUT 1000 FT THICK. I TRIED TO START THE ENG AND IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO GET A JUMP START. IN THE CONFUSION AND APPREHENSION I ASKED CLRNC DELIVERY FOR A CONAGO 5 DEP (WHICH THERE IS NONE) AND WAS GIVEN CONAGO 7 DEP. I ASKED WHAT DIFFERENCE WAS BTWN 5 AND 7 AND WAS TOLD NONE (I'M STILL THINKING NEWHALL DEP). I MIGHT ADD I'VE MADE EFR FLT FROM VAN NUYS AND I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SYS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BUT MY MIND JUST WASN'T IN GEAR. ADDING TO THE CONFUSION GND CTL HAD ME TAXI INTO POS AFTER ABOUT A 20 MIN WAIT AND THEN TAXI BACK FOR ANOTHER 10 MINS. NEWHALL DEP IS AFTER TKOF TURN L TO A HDG OF 110 DEGS FOR VECTORS. CONAGO IS A R TURN FOR VECTORS. AFTER TKOF I TURNED TO A HDG OF 110 DEGS AND CONTACTED DEP WHO TOLD ME TO TURN IMMEDIATELY TO MY R TO AVOID TFC AND A HDG I COULDN'T GET BECAUSE MY RADIO WAS FAILING AND COULD HEAR ONLY PART OF WHAT THE CTLR WAS SAYING. I BROKE OUT OF THE OVCST AT 3000 FT AND CANCELLED MY IFR. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CTLR COULD HERE ME OR NOT. MY RADIO FAILED COMPLETELY ABOUT 10 MINS LATER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD I TEST FLEW THE ACFT BEFORE STARTING ON A LONG TRIP OR FLYING IFR TO CHK OUT THE NEW RADIO AND EQUIP AND WILL DO SO IN THE FUTURE.

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.