A pilot reported that after being cleared for a rtn runway 2 VOR/DME approach radio contact was lost...

Attributes
ACN	900412
Time
Date	201007
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	RTN.Airport
State Reference	NM
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45 Flight Crew Total 1300 Flight Crew Type 10
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

We were cleared for the VOR/DME approach runway 2 at rtn. This was an unexpected pop-up clearance and we crossed cimmaron VOR at 17;500. We were cleared at or above 9;400 and cleared the approach. In our descent; we broke out at approximately 10;000 MSL and had visual with the airport. We made three attempts to cancel while airborne; but could not hail denver center. We continued our descent below the prescribed MDA; squawked 1;200; and flew into the airport. We made this decision to avoid virga in the approach descent path. By technically not having closed our IFR flight plan; we broke the descent minima for the approach. An rco or better positioning of the transmitter for denver center could have avoided this. Their handling was superb and we are not unhappy -- we just were surprised that fully 3/4 of the approach was out of radio contact.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot reported that after being cleared for a RTN Runway 2 VOR/DME approach radio contact was lost. The reporter assumed that a remote Denver Center transmitter site was not nearby.

Narrative: We were cleared for the VOR/DME approach Runway 2 at RTN. This was an unexpected pop-up clearance and we crossed Cimmaron VOR at 17;500. We were cleared at or above 9;400 and cleared the approach. In our descent; we broke out at approximately 10;000 MSL and had visual with the airport. We made three attempts to cancel while airborne; but could not hail Denver Center. We continued our descent below the prescribed MDA; squawked 1;200; and flew into the airport. We made this decision to avoid virga in the approach descent path. By technically not having closed our IFR flight plan; we broke the descent minima for the approach. An RCO or better positioning of the transmitter for Denver Center could have avoided this. Their handling was superb and we are not unhappy -- we just were surprised that fully 3/4 of the approach was out of radio contact.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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 pilot reported that after being cleared for a rtn runway 2 VOR/DME approach radio contact was lost. The reporter assumed that a remote denver center transmitter site was not nearby.