Radio equipment problem causes loss of radio contact.

Attributes
ACN	203674
Time
Date	199202
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zid
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	203674
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

In cruise on IFR flight plan (VMC) lost all communication capability. After being unable to hear any answer to my calls, I realized that the transmitter was probably working but the audio amplifier had failed (all audio comes through one amp). This seems like a poor way of outfitting an avionics package in a light twin. I broadcast in the blind to cancel IFR clearance (squawked 7300) and continued in VMC at appropriate altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADIO EQUIP PROBLEM CAUSES LOSS OF RADIO CONTACT.

Narrative: IN CRUISE ON IFR FLT PLAN (VMC) LOST ALL COM CAPABILITY. AFTER BEING UNABLE TO HEAR ANY ANSWER TO MY CALLS, I REALIZED THAT THE TRANSMITTER WAS PROBABLY WORKING BUT THE AUDIO AMPLIFIER HAD FAILED (ALL AUDIO COMES THROUGH ONE AMP). THIS SEEMS LIKE A POOR WAY OF OUTFITTING AN AVIONICS PACKAGE IN A LIGHT TWIN. I BROADCAST IN THE BLIND TO CANCEL IFR CLRNC (SQUAWKED 7300) AND CONTINUED IN VMC AT APPROPRIATE ALT.

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.