An instrument rated pilot in a PA28 is unable to establish communication with phl TRACON near col.

Attributes
ACN	435494
Time
Date	199904
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : col.vor
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 23 flight time total : 238 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	435494
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I flew IFR from bdr to pne with no problems. On the return trip I elected to fly VFR (VMC all day). As I climbed out of pne, I contacted phl approach for flight following. Phl replied, but was unable to transmit my response. Phl attempted to contact me several times. I heard the calls but couldn't respond (transmit inoperative/receive ok). I decided to stay below phl class B and see if I could isolate the problem. After clearing phl class B airspace I climbed to 7500 ft MSL above new york class B airspace, I tried several methods to contact phl/new york approach control and ZNY. Around 5 mi north of rbv, I squawked 7600 and started to look for a place to land, outside new york class B airspace. I called new york approach control (ewr) and got one response, but again couldn't answer back. I tried one more frequency (jfk approach), got a response, replied and reset transponder to 1200. The rest of the flight was ok. I never entered either phl or new york class B airspace, but was very concerned whether ATC heard my many calls and did not reply or didn't hear me at all. I expected a broadcast from ATC when I squawked 7600 to ask me to identify to verify communication failure. I wasn't sure whether I had a total radio loss.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INST RATED PLT IN A PA28 IS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH COM WITH PHL TRACON NEAR COL.

Narrative: I FLEW IFR FROM BDR TO PNE WITH NO PROBS. ON THE RETURN TRIP I ELECTED TO FLY VFR (VMC ALL DAY). AS I CLBED OUT OF PNE, I CONTACTED PHL APCH FOR FLT FOLLOWING. PHL REPLIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO XMIT MY RESPONSE. PHL ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ME SEVERAL TIMES. I HEARD THE CALLS BUT COULDN'T RESPOND (XMIT INOP/RECEIVE OK). I DECIDED TO STAY BELOW PHL CLASS B AND SEE IF I COULD ISOLATE THE PROB. AFTER CLRING PHL CLASS B AIRSPACE I CLBED TO 7500 FT MSL ABOVE NEW YORK CLASS B AIRSPACE, I TRIED SEVERAL METHODS TO CONTACT PHL/NEW YORK APCH CTL AND ZNY. AROUND 5 MI N OF RBV, I SQUAWKED 7600 AND STARTED TO LOOK FOR A PLACE TO LAND, OUTSIDE NEW YORK CLASS B AIRSPACE. I CALLED NEW YORK APCH CTL (EWR) AND GOT ONE RESPONSE, BUT AGAIN COULDN'T ANSWER BACK. I TRIED ONE MORE FREQ (JFK APCH), GOT A RESPONSE, REPLIED AND RESET XPONDER TO 1200. THE REST OF THE FLT WAS OK. I NEVER ENTERED EITHER PHL OR NEW YORK CLASS B AIRSPACE, BUT WAS VERY CONCERNED WHETHER ATC HEARD MY MANY CALLS AND DID NOT REPLY OR DIDN'T HEAR ME AT ALL. I EXPECTED A BROADCAST FROM ATC WHEN I SQUAWKED 7600 TO ASK ME TO IDENT TO VERIFY COM FAILURE. I WASN'T SURE WHETHER I HAD A TOTAL RADIO LOSS.

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.