Narrative:

When on an IFR flight plan and planning a GPS runway 5 approach into hbz; the plate calls for 4000 ft to the IAF dropping to 2600 ft to the FAF and 1180 ft to the MDA. Prior to reaching the IAF I was cleared to 3000 ft and I descended; at which point I believe that center no longer could see me on radar and communications were spotty at best; a word here and there. I reported approaching the IAF and got no response; at reaching the IAF I began my descent to 2600 ft for the FAF. I caught a few words from center; but nothing that I could understand. Finally center relayed through a baron flying over; that I was cleared for the approach. Upon reaching the FAF; I descended to 1180 ft and continued. I could see the ground but not ahead. Finally I broke through the clouds at MDA and the runway was clear ahead. I made a normal landing and called flight service to report that I was on the ground and to notify center. My concern is that I began the approach without the words 'cleared for the approach' but could not hear center. Finally the clearance came through the baron; so I assumed that all was well. The other problem is that I don't understand why center dropped me from 4000 ft to 3000 ft before the approach plate called for the descent. I don't know that I should have begun the approach without the magic words; but I couldn't communicate with center. So I believed that the 'lost communication' rule was in effect. That is to continue as expected when I lost communication. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that after the controller descended him to 3000 ft it appeared to him that radar contact with his aircraft was lost. This was indicated after he began the approach and descended to the next altitude the controller relayed through another aircraft that the reporter should climb back to 3000 ft. The reporter said that he relayed back that he was on the approach and the controller finally issued a 'cleared for the approach' clearance. The reporter stated that he should have queried the controller regarding the MSA when the clearance to descend to 3000 ft was issued. The reporter stated that the descent to the lower altitude was detrimental to communications.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RYAN NAVION H PLT IS ISSUED AN ALT THAT IS BELOW THE MSA FOR THE PUBLISHED APCH AND HAS COM DIFFICULTIES.

Narrative: WHEN ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND PLANNING A GPS RWY 5 APCH INTO HBZ; THE PLATE CALLS FOR 4000 FT TO THE IAF DROPPING TO 2600 FT TO THE FAF AND 1180 FT TO THE MDA. PRIOR TO REACHING THE IAF I WAS CLRED TO 3000 FT AND I DSNDED; AT WHICH POINT I BELIEVE THAT CTR NO LONGER COULD SEE ME ON RADAR AND COMS WERE SPOTTY AT BEST; A WORD HERE AND THERE. I RPTED APCHING THE IAF AND GOT NO RESPONSE; AT REACHING THE IAF I BEGAN MY DSCNT TO 2600 FT FOR THE FAF. I CAUGHT A FEW WORDS FROM CTR; BUT NOTHING THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND. FINALLY CTR RELAYED THROUGH A BARON FLYING OVER; THAT I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH. UPON REACHING THE FAF; I DSNDED TO 1180 FT AND CONTINUED. I COULD SEE THE GND BUT NOT AHEAD. FINALLY I BROKE THROUGH THE CLOUDS AT MDA AND THE RWY WAS CLR AHEAD. I MADE A NORMAL LNDG AND CALLED FLT SVC TO RPT THAT I WAS ON THE GND AND TO NOTIFY CTR. MY CONCERN IS THAT I BEGAN THE APCH WITHOUT THE WORDS 'CLRED FOR THE APCH' BUT COULD NOT HEAR CTR. FINALLY THE CLRNC CAME THROUGH THE BARON; SO I ASSUMED THAT ALL WAS WELL. THE OTHER PROB IS THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY CTR DROPPED ME FROM 4000 FT TO 3000 FT BEFORE THE APCH PLATE CALLED FOR THE DSCNT. I DON'T KNOW THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEGUN THE APCH WITHOUT THE MAGIC WORDS; BUT I COULDN'T COMMUNICATE WITH CTR. SO I BELIEVED THAT THE 'LOST COM' RULE WAS IN EFFECT. THAT IS TO CONTINUE AS EXPECTED WHEN I LOST COM. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT AFTER THE CTLR DSNDED HIM TO 3000 FT IT APPEARED TO HIM THAT RADAR CONTACT WITH HIS ACFT WAS LOST. THIS WAS INDICATED AFTER HE BEGAN THE APCH AND DSNDED TO THE NEXT ALT THE CTLR RELAYED THROUGH ANOTHER ACFT THAT THE RPTR SHOULD CLB BACK TO 3000 FT. THE RPTR SAID THAT HE RELAYED BACK THAT HE WAS ON THE APCH AND THE CTLR FINALLY ISSUED A 'CLRED FOR THE APCH' CLRNC. THE RPTR STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE QUERIED THE CTLR REGARDING THE MSA WHEN THE CLRNC TO DSND TO 3000 FT WAS ISSUED. THE RPTR STATED THAT THE DSCNT TO THE LOWER ALT WAS DETRIMENTAL TO COMS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.