A GA private pilot on an IFR clearance loses contact with ZKC and has to obtain a new frequency from...

Attributes
ACN	471590
Time
Date	200004
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 14 flight time total : 2800 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	471590
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft ATC Facility ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	ATC Facility

Narrative:

After repeated attempts to reach FSS from the motel room, with no success I departed waynoka municipal (OK79) waynoka, ok, en route to salina municipal (sln) salina, ks, in light rain. I remained VFR on top, but was having to climb. At 5000 ft MSL I contacted mcalister radio for a WX update for my route of flight. Mcalister was very helpful and gave me a full report with no significant WX other than high clouds with low level cumulus near hutchinson, ks, with salina showing VFR. Mcalister offered me flight following or to air file an IFR flight plan. I was at 5500 ft MSL on top and elected to file IFR for a possible let down through clouds closer to sln and relayed the required information. I was asked to contact ZKC on 118.35. They cleared me to hut VOR then direct sln. I reported crossing hut and was cleared down to 5000 ft MSL. Shortly after this I lost my ability to transmit or ZKC lost its ability to receive. I maintained 5000 ft MSL and continued trying to raise center, I could hear them trying to re-establish contact with me. I was in light clouds during this time. Approximately 30 NM north of hutchinson I broke out of all clouds except for some high light clouds and a few broken clouds below and in VFR conditions, as mcalister had said. Still unable to contact ZKC, I left 5000 ft for 3500 ft MSL and contacted salina tower on 119.3. I explained to them my communication problem and asked if they would contact ZKC for me and see how they wanted me to proceed. Salina tower called me back and asked me to contact ZKC on 134.9, which I did. I explained to the controller that I was in VFR conditions. He asked if I wanted to cancel IFR, I told him I did. I continued on to salina and was cleared to land. I have no idea why my transmitting capabilities were compromised. I realize the boundaries were close, the anthony sector (118.35) and the hutchinson sector (118.8), but we are always instructed to change frequencys prior to losing one. My transmission into salina and subsequently to center showed no problem, both of my radios are well maintained and have never caused me a problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GA PVT PLT ON AN IFR CLRNC LOSES CONTACT WITH ZKC AND HAS TO OBTAIN A NEW FREQ FROM TWR CTLR AT SLN, KS.

Narrative: AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REACH FSS FROM THE MOTEL ROOM, WITH NO SUCCESS I DEPARTED WAYNOKA MUNI (OK79) WAYNOKA, OK, ENRTE TO SALINA MUNI (SLN) SALINA, KS, IN LIGHT RAIN. I REMAINED VFR ON TOP, BUT WAS HAVING TO CLB. AT 5000 FT MSL I CONTACTED MCALISTER RADIO FOR A WX UPDATE FOR MY RTE OF FLT. MCALISTER WAS VERY HELPFUL AND GAVE ME A FULL RPT WITH NO SIGNIFICANT WX OTHER THAN HIGH CLOUDS WITH LOW LEVEL CUMULUS NEAR HUTCHINSON, KS, WITH SALINA SHOWING VFR. MCALISTER OFFERED ME FLT FOLLOWING OR TO AIR FILE AN IFR FLT PLAN. I WAS AT 5500 FT MSL ON TOP AND ELECTED TO FILE IFR FOR A POSSIBLE LET DOWN THROUGH CLOUDS CLOSER TO SLN AND RELAYED THE REQUIRED INFO. I WAS ASKED TO CONTACT ZKC ON 118.35. THEY CLRED ME TO HUT VOR THEN DIRECT SLN. I RPTED XING HUT AND WAS CLRED DOWN TO 5000 FT MSL. SHORTLY AFTER THIS I LOST MY ABILITY TO XMIT OR ZKC LOST ITS ABILITY TO RECEIVE. I MAINTAINED 5000 FT MSL AND CONTINUED TRYING TO RAISE CTR, I COULD HEAR THEM TRYING TO RE-ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH ME. I WAS IN LIGHT CLOUDS DURING THIS TIME. APPROX 30 NM N OF HUTCHINSON I BROKE OUT OF ALL CLOUDS EXCEPT FOR SOME HIGH LIGHT CLOUDS AND A FEW BROKEN CLOUDS BELOW AND IN VFR CONDITIONS, AS MCALISTER HAD SAID. STILL UNABLE TO CONTACT ZKC, I LEFT 5000 FT FOR 3500 FT MSL AND CONTACTED SALINA TWR ON 119.3. I EXPLAINED TO THEM MY COM PROB AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD CONTACT ZKC FOR ME AND SEE HOW THEY WANTED ME TO PROCEED. SALINA TWR CALLED ME BACK AND ASKED ME TO CONTACT ZKC ON 134.9, WHICH I DID. I EXPLAINED TO THE CTLR THAT I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS. HE ASKED IF I WANTED TO CANCEL IFR, I TOLD HIM I DID. I CONTINUED ON TO SALINA AND WAS CLRED TO LAND. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY MY XMITTING CAPABILITIES WERE COMPROMISED. I REALIZE THE BOUNDARIES WERE CLOSE, THE ANTHONY SECTOR (118.35) AND THE HUTCHINSON SECTOR (118.8), BUT WE ARE ALWAYS INSTRUCTED TO CHANGE FREQS PRIOR TO LOSING ONE. MY XMISSION INTO SALINA AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO CTR SHOWED NO PROB, BOTH OF MY RADIOS ARE WELL MAINTAINED AND HAVE NEVER CAUSED ME A PROB.

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.

A GA private pilot on an IFR clearance loses contact with ZKC and has to obtain a new frequency from tower controller at sln, ks.