A BE35 private pilot suffers a temporary loss of communication frequency with tpa approach, fl.

Attributes
ACN	453080
Time
Date	199910
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : v157 v615.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 26 flight time total : 1482 flight time type : 418
ASRS Report	453080
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft ATC Facility Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During an IFR flight from winder, GA, to punta gorda, fl, radio communication was lost with ATC for a short period of time. After departing ocala on airway V157 for lakeland, I was xferred to tpa approach. Initial contact was made with the controller and a period of radio silence followed. After crossing the lakeland VOR with no radio communication, I tried to contact ATC with the #1 communication with no success. Immediately I used the #2 communication and radio communications were re-established with tpa approach. The controller advised that he had been unable to contact me for 20 mi and then he turned me over to the next controller. Subsequent contact with the next controller using the #1 communication was successful. Even though long periods of radio activity does occur at times on IFR flts, I now realize that not confirming radio contact with ATC on a regular basis is a mistake. In the future, I will be confirming radio communication with ATC at least every 5 mins during these periods of radio silence. I will not assume that equipment failure could not occur.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE35 PVT PLT SUFFERS A TEMPORARY LOSS OF COM FREQ WITH TPA APCH, FL.

Narrative: DURING AN IFR FLT FROM WINDER, GA, TO PUNTA GORDA, FL, RADIO COM WAS LOST WITH ATC FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. AFTER DEPARTING OCALA ON AIRWAY V157 FOR LAKELAND, I WAS XFERRED TO TPA APCH. INITIAL CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE CTLR AND A PERIOD OF RADIO SILENCE FOLLOWED. AFTER XING THE LAKELAND VOR WITH NO RADIO COM, I TRIED TO CONTACT ATC WITH THE #1 COM WITH NO SUCCESS. IMMEDIATELY I USED THE #2 COM AND RADIO COMS WERE RE-ESTABLISHED WITH TPA APCH. THE CTLR ADVISED THAT HE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT ME FOR 20 MI AND THEN HE TURNED ME OVER TO THE NEXT CTLR. SUBSEQUENT CONTACT WITH THE NEXT CTLR USING THE #1 COM WAS SUCCESSFUL. EVEN THOUGH LONG PERIODS OF RADIO ACTIVITY DOES OCCUR AT TIMES ON IFR FLTS, I NOW REALIZE THAT NOT CONFIRMING RADIO CONTACT WITH ATC ON A REGULAR BASIS IS A MISTAKE. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE CONFIRMING RADIO COM WITH ATC AT LEAST EVERY 5 MINS DURING THESE PERIODS OF RADIO SILENCE. I WILL NOT ASSUME THAT EQUIP FAILURE COULD NOT OCCUR.

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.