Narrative:

While on an IFR flight from fcm to mwc. I was at 6000 ft in VMC, with a cloud deck 100-200 ft below me and cirrus above. The outside air temperature was 0 degrees or 1 degree C. Msp approach told me to switch to center. I tried unsuccessfully to reach center several times during the next 3-5 mins. Unbeknownst to me, the undercast was gradually rising towards my attitude. While trying to reach center, I inadvertently let my altitude creep higher. As I entered the clouds, I studied the outside air temperature gauge, my wings, struts, wheel pants and windshield for signs of ice. I was worried that center failed to respond on the assigned frequency. I was concerned about icing. Unfortunately, the ride in the clouds was very bumpy. For a short while, I did not realize that a strong updraft lifted the aircraft above my assigned altitude. I wanted a new altitude assignment to get back above the clouds. Since center was not responding, I used the previously assigned frequency, and told the approach controller that I needed to climb and that no one answered my calls on the other frequency. The approach controller said that center was 'having problems' with its radios. He also said that I should not climb without a clearance. I explained that I could not get a clearance because there was no one to talk to on the assigned frequency. At this time, I thought about canceling IFR or declaring an emergency. Fortunately, these steps were unnecessary because the approach controller cleared me to 7000 ft, and told me to try to reach center again. No one answered my calls on this frequency during the next 3-5 mins. After reading 7000 ft, I rechecked the en route chart and determined a frequency that might work. This frequency worked, and the flight proceeded without further incident. My anxiety and potential altitude deviation would not have occurred if the handoff worked properly.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT DRIFTED OFF HIS ASSIGNED ALT WHEN ENTERING CLOUDS AND BECOMING CONCERNED ABOUT ACFT ICING.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT FROM FCM TO MWC. I WAS AT 6000 FT IN VMC, WITH A CLOUD DECK 100-200 FT BELOW ME AND CIRRUS ABOVE. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS 0 DEGS OR 1 DEG C. MSP APCH TOLD ME TO SWITCH TO CENTER. I TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO REACH CENTER SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE NEXT 3-5 MINS. UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, THE UNDERCAST WAS GRADUALLY RISING TOWARDS MY ATTITUDE. WHILE TRYING TO REACH CENTER, I INADVERTENTLY LET MY ALT CREEP HIGHER. AS I ENTERED THE CLOUDS, I STUDIED THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP GAUGE, MY WINGS, STRUTS, WHEEL PANTS AND WINDSHIELD FOR SIGNS OF ICE. I WAS WORRIED THAT CENTER FAILED TO RESPOND ON THE ASSIGNED FREQ. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ICING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE RIDE IN THE CLOUDS WAS VERY BUMPY. FOR A SHORT WHILE, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT A STRONG UPDRAFT LIFTED THE ACFT ABOVE MY ASSIGNED ALT. I WANTED A NEW ALT ASSIGNMENT TO GET BACK ABOVE THE CLOUDS. SINCE CENTER WAS NOT RESPONDING, I USED THE PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED FREQ, AND TOLD THE APCH CTLR THAT I NEEDED TO CLB AND THAT NO ONE ANSWERED MY CALLS ON THE OTHER FREQ. THE APCH CTLR SAID THAT CENTER WAS 'HAVING PROBS' WITH ITS RADIOS. HE ALSO SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT CLB WITHOUT A CLRNC. I EXPLAINED THAT I COULD NOT GET A CLRNC BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ONE TO TALK TO ON THE ASSIGNED FREQ. AT THIS TIME, I THOUGHT ABOUT CANCELING IFR OR DECLARING AN EMER. FORTUNATELY, THESE STEPS WERE UNNECESSARY BECAUSE THE APCH CTLR CLRED ME TO 7000 FT, AND TOLD ME TO TRY TO REACH CENTER AGAIN. NO ONE ANSWERED MY CALLS ON THIS FREQ DURING THE NEXT 3-5 MINS. AFTER READING 7000 FT, I RECHECKED THE ENRTE CHART AND DETERMINED A FREQ THAT MIGHT WORK. THIS FREQ WORKED, AND THE FLT PROCEEDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. MY ANXIETY AND POTENTIAL ALT DEV WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF THE HANDOFF WORKED PROPERLY.

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.