Pilot of small aircraft aircraft lost all radio communication and navigation during an IFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	219650
Time
Date	199208
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : leb
State Reference	NH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zbw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time total : 2900
ASRS Report	219650
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Lost complete communication/navigation in VMC above broken overcast. Made decision and immediately proceeded via magnetic heading toward btv as btv is usually better WX than intended destination of mpv (departed mht). As I got closer I could tell that I would not be able to see btv, however, I did find an area where I could see the ground. I decide to remain in that area as there were numerous places that appear suitable for an emergency landing. I had 3.5 hours of fuel at that point and decided that I would land with 1 hour of fuel. Note: at first notice of failure, I declared emergency and squawked 7700 1 min and 7600 15 mins alternately. Remaining in visual contact with ground, I began troubleshooting, recycling circuit breakers, battery switch, alternators, radio master, standby radio master, etc -- no help. After approximately 15-20 mins, I turned off battery for 10-15 mins. When I reengaged battery, all equipment was working and I found I was 17.5 DME east of btv. I contacted btv approach and was vectored, descended to ASR runway 15. I informed approach controller of intentions to obtain visual contact at alternate and heading assigned and land visually if communication was lost again. Landing was made, no further problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ACFT LOST ALL RADIO COM AND NAV DURING AN IFR FLT.

Narrative: LOST COMPLETE COM/NAV IN VMC ABOVE BROKEN OVCST. MADE DECISION AND IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED VIA MAGNETIC HDG TOWARD BTV AS BTV IS USUALLY BETTER WX THAN INTENDED DEST OF MPV (DEPARTED MHT). AS I GOT CLOSER I COULD TELL THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE BTV, HOWEVER, I DID FIND AN AREA WHERE I COULD SEE THE GND. I DECIDE TO REMAIN IN THAT AREA AS THERE WERE NUMEROUS PLACES THAT APPEAR SUITABLE FOR AN EMER LNDG. I HAD 3.5 HRS OF FUEL AT THAT POINT AND DECIDED THAT I WOULD LAND WITH 1 HR OF FUEL. NOTE: AT FIRST NOTICE OF FAILURE, I DECLARED EMER AND SQUAWKED 7700 1 MIN AND 7600 15 MINS ALTERNATELY. REMAINING IN VISUAL CONTACT WITH GND, I BEGAN TROUBLESHOOTING, RECYCLING CIRCUIT BREAKERS, BATTERY SWITCH, ALTERNATORS, RADIO MASTER, STANDBY RADIO MASTER, ETC -- NO HELP. AFTER APPROX 15-20 MINS, I TURNED OFF BATTERY FOR 10-15 MINS. WHEN I REENGAGED BATTERY, ALL EQUIP WAS WORKING AND I FOUND I WAS 17.5 DME E OF BTV. I CONTACTED BTV APCH AND WAS VECTORED, DSNDED TO ASR RWY 15. I INFORMED APCH CTLR OF INTENTIONS TO OBTAIN VISUAL CONTACT AT ALTERNATE AND HDG ASSIGNED AND LAND VISUALLY IF COM WAS LOST AGAIN. LNDG WAS MADE, NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.

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.