PA28 pilot has radio communication problem, and penetrates P-56 while on ATC vector.

Attributes
ACN	402580
Time
Date	199805
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : w32
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	402580
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed W32 airport in IMC conditions on an IFR flight plan and was immediately radar idented and given a radar vector of 360 degrees. A very short time later, perhaps about 60 seconds after hearing the last radio exchanges, I suspected and confirmed a loss of audio from the communication radio. Switching to an alternate radio within seconds, I heard the clearance 'turn to 040 degrees now.' I responded immediately with the turn and when controller timing allowed confirmed the 040 degree clearance with ATC. During the flight I was requested to call ATC on the land line upon landing. I was advised by ATC that I had penetrated P-56 prohibited area. As PIC I believe I acted and responded correctly in the situation of a momentary loss of communications. The airspace penetration was inadvertent and unavoidable. Safety was never compromised.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT HAS RADIO COM PROB, AND PENETRATES P-56 WHILE ON ATC VECTOR.

Narrative: DEPARTED W32 ARPT IN IMC CONDITIONS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND WAS IMMEDIATELY RADAR IDENTED AND GIVEN A RADAR VECTOR OF 360 DEGS. A VERY SHORT TIME LATER, PERHAPS ABOUT 60 SECONDS AFTER HEARING THE LAST RADIO EXCHANGES, I SUSPECTED AND CONFIRMED A LOSS OF AUDIO FROM THE COM RADIO. SWITCHING TO AN ALTERNATE RADIO WITHIN SECONDS, I HEARD THE CLRNC 'TURN TO 040 DEGS NOW.' I RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY WITH THE TURN AND WHEN CTLR TIMING ALLOWED CONFIRMED THE 040 DEG CLRNC WITH ATC. DURING THE FLT I WAS REQUESTED TO CALL ATC ON THE LAND LINE UPON LNDG. I WAS ADVISED BY ATC THAT I HAD PENETRATED P-56 PROHIBITED AREA. AS PIC I BELIEVE I ACTED AND RESPONDED CORRECTLY IN THE SIT OF A MOMENTARY LOSS OF COMS. THE AIRSPACE PENETRATION WAS INADVERTENT AND UNAVOIDABLE. SAFETY WAS NEVER COMPROMISED.

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.