Narrative:

As a result of being intimidated by myf tower to complete my run-up and prepare for departure in less than 5 mins, I had not fully reviewed my IFR clearance which was different than filed nor completed my navigation set-up. Once level and in contact with san departure, while setting up for the next fix, I encountered a strong windshear which resulted in a temporary loss of aircraft control. After an indeterminate amount of time I became aware that the radio frequency was unusually silent and that I was then over the la basin area. Realizing after several attempts to make contact with ATC that I had failed communication, I began to implement failed communication procedures. Since I was in IMC, I initiated ascent to the MEA and continued on the airway assigned in the clearance. Severe turbulence prevented me from being able to reach down to the transponder to squawk the emergency code. I was, however, able to continue to troubleshoot the communications. Although FARS state emergency procedures are to squawk 7700/7600, I was unable to do so and continue to safely operate the aircraft. I was in IMC, in severe turbulence over mountainous terrain and my primary concern was to climb above the MEA and maintain course on the airway. Under the existing conditions, I could not safely take my eyes off the instruments long enough to look down at the transponder. Hence, my decision to aviate and navigation first. Luckily, I discovered the cause of the radio problem and re-established contact. I later concluded the problem was caused by a radio switch being accidentally flipped off during the windshear encounter.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF RADIO CONTACT SPURS PVT PLT TO EXERCISE THE MANDATES OF LOST COM PROC. MISSED A FEW POINTS.

Narrative: AS A RESULT OF BEING INTIMIDATED BY MYF TWR TO COMPLETE MY RUN-UP AND PREPARE FOR DEP IN LESS THAN 5 MINS, I HAD NOT FULLY REVIEWED MY IFR CLRNC WHICH WAS DIFFERENT THAN FILED NOR COMPLETED MY NAV SET-UP. ONCE LEVEL AND IN CONTACT WITH SAN DEP, WHILE SETTING UP FOR THE NEXT FIX, I ENCOUNTERED A STRONG WINDSHEAR WHICH RESULTED IN A TEMPORARY LOSS OF ACFT CTL. AFTER AN INDETERMINATE AMOUNT OF TIME I BECAME AWARE THAT THE RADIO FREQ WAS UNUSUALLY SILENT AND THAT I WAS THEN OVER THE LA BASIN AREA. REALIZING AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ATC THAT I HAD FAILED COM, I BEGAN TO IMPLEMENT FAILED COM PROCS. SINCE I WAS IN IMC, I INITIATED ASCENT TO THE MEA AND CONTINUED ON THE AIRWAY ASSIGNED IN THE CLRNC. SEVERE TURB PREVENTED ME FROM BEING ABLE TO REACH DOWN TO THE XPONDER TO SQUAWK THE EMER CODE. I WAS, HOWEVER, ABLE TO CONTINUE TO TROUBLESHOOT THE COMS. ALTHOUGH FARS STATE EMER PROCS ARE TO SQUAWK 7700/7600, I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO AND CONTINUE TO SAFELY OPERATE THE ACFT. I WAS IN IMC, IN SEVERE TURB OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND MY PRIMARY CONCERN WAS TO CLB ABOVE THE MEA AND MAINTAIN COURSE ON THE AIRWAY. UNDER THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, I COULD NOT SAFELY TAKE MY EYES OFF THE INSTS LONG ENOUGH TO LOOK DOWN AT THE XPONDER. HENCE, MY DECISION TO AVIATE AND NAV FIRST. LUCKILY, I DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF THE RADIO PROB AND RE-ESTABLISHED CONTACT. I LATER CONCLUDED THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY A RADIO SWITCH BEING ACCIDENTALLY FLIPPED OFF DURING THE WINDSHEAR ENCOUNTER.

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.