Narrative:

At approximately XA00 on feb/fri/04, on an IFR flight plan from cbf to rue, communication with ZME was lost. The last communication with ZME was for me to descend and maintain 4100 ft. The frequency was 126.1. As I came closer to the airport, I made numerous attempts to reach ZME on 126.1 and 128.47 (as listed on the approach chart). When overhead the airport, still at 4100 ft in VFR conditions, still with no communication with memphis, I proceeded to land at rue. After securing the aircraft, I immediately called jonesboro FSS to cancel my flight plan and have them call memphis and report the failure. Shortly after, ZME called the FBO and I spoke to them. At approximately XE15, I prepared to depart rue. I tried to contact ZME on 128.47 to receive clearance. Again, I was unable to contact them. I departed VFR and was only able to make contact with ZME after reaching 4500 ft MSL. I made several radio checks on the ground and in the air with other aircraft and my radios checked ok. I believe I followed communication failure procedure correctly as stated in far 91.185. I had no radio problems while on both IFR flight plans except below 4500 ft in the russellville area. I cannot make any assumptions except an issue with a remote transmitter and the proximity of the ozark mountains to rue. I plan to discuss this issue with an avionics technician but if it is not an issue with my radios it may be a safety issue to others approaching rue, especially in IFR conditions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR BE36 ENRTE TO RUE EXPERIENCED RADIO FAILURE WITH ZME AND LANDED IN VFR CONDITIONS.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA00 ON FEB/FRI/04, ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM CBF TO RUE, COM WITH ZME WAS LOST. THE LAST COM WITH ZME WAS FOR ME TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 4100 FT. THE FREQ WAS 126.1. AS I CAME CLOSER TO THE ARPT, I MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REACH ZME ON 126.1 AND 128.47 (AS LISTED ON THE APCH CHART). WHEN OVERHEAD THE ARPT, STILL AT 4100 FT IN VFR CONDITIONS, STILL WITH NO COM WITH MEMPHIS, I PROCEEDED TO LAND AT RUE. AFTER SECURING THE ACFT, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED JONESBORO FSS TO CANCEL MY FLT PLAN AND HAVE THEM CALL MEMPHIS AND RPT THE FAILURE. SHORTLY AFTER, ZME CALLED THE FBO AND I SPOKE TO THEM. AT APPROX XE15, I PREPARED TO DEPART RUE. I TRIED TO CONTACT ZME ON 128.47 TO RECEIVE CLRNC. AGAIN, I WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THEM. I DEPARTED VFR AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ZME AFTER REACHING 4500 FT MSL. I MADE SEVERAL RADIO CHKS ON THE GND AND IN THE AIR WITH OTHER ACFT AND MY RADIOS CHKED OK. I BELIEVE I FOLLOWED COM FAILURE PROC CORRECTLY AS STATED IN FAR 91.185. I HAD NO RADIO PROBS WHILE ON BOTH IFR FLT PLANS EXCEPT BELOW 4500 FT IN THE RUSSELLVILLE AREA. I CANNOT MAKE ANY ASSUMPTIONS EXCEPT AN ISSUE WITH A REMOTE XMITTER AND THE PROX OF THE OZARK MOUNTAINS TO RUE. I PLAN TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE WITH AN AVIONICS TECHNICIAN BUT IF IT IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH MY RADIOS IT MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE TO OTHERS APCHING RUE, ESPECIALLY IN IFR CONDITIONS.

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.