A PA28-181 CFI encounters radar coverage problems while en route from hya to mvy, ma.

Attributes
ACN	448089
Time
Date	199909
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mvy.airport
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : k90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	448089
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA ATC Human Performance ATC Facility
Primary Problem	FAA

Narrative:

En route IFR from hya to mvy (in visual conditions) I checked in with approach on 118.2 as advised by hya tower. Made contact with cape approach, told them I had mvy ATIS. I was told to proceed direct to mvy. Cape then advised contact cape approach on 124.7. I checked in on 124.7 with cape. They acknowledged, then no further xmissions. As I approached about 7 NM from mvy, I was unable to raise cape on 124.7, so I called mvy tower on 121.4, advised them I lost contact with cape on 124.7, and I was IFR inbound. They said try cape on 133.75, which I did. I said unable on 124.7. Controller said he 'lost his position' or something like that. Cape told me to contact mvy tower, which I did, and landed safely. No idea what the problem at cape approach is. I wanted to make mvy tower aware I was inbound since there were other aircraft in the class D airspace. I have no idea if they had the IFR strip on me as an inbound, so I take nothing for granted.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28-181 CFI ENCOUNTERS RADAR COVERAGE PROBS WHILE ENRTE FROM HYA TO MVY, MA.

Narrative: ENRTE IFR FROM HYA TO MVY (IN VISUAL CONDITIONS) I CHKED IN WITH APCH ON 118.2 AS ADVISED BY HYA TWR. MADE CONTACT WITH CAPE APCH, TOLD THEM I HAD MVY ATIS. I WAS TOLD TO PROCEED DIRECT TO MVY. CAPE THEN ADVISED CONTACT CAPE APCH ON 124.7. I CHKED IN ON 124.7 WITH CAPE. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED, THEN NO FURTHER XMISSIONS. AS I APCHED ABOUT 7 NM FROM MVY, I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE CAPE ON 124.7, SO I CALLED MVY TWR ON 121.4, ADVISED THEM I LOST CONTACT WITH CAPE ON 124.7, AND I WAS IFR INBOUND. THEY SAID TRY CAPE ON 133.75, WHICH I DID. I SAID UNABLE ON 124.7. CTLR SAID HE 'LOST HIS POS' OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. CAPE TOLD ME TO CONTACT MVY TWR, WHICH I DID, AND LANDED SAFELY. NO IDEA WHAT THE PROB AT CAPE APCH IS. I WANTED TO MAKE MVY TWR AWARE I WAS INBOUND SINCE THERE WERE OTHER ACFT IN THE CLASS D AIRSPACE. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY HAD THE IFR STRIP ON ME AS AN INBOUND, SO I TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED.

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.