Stinson pilot reports radio failure while waiting to depart sun north fun and signals this fact to t...

Narrative:

When taxiing to line up and wait for departure at sun n fun; my radio failed completely (only one working radio) due to what appears to be rain water falling down from my panel and shorting the radio contacts. My airplane is always hangared; but it had been left outdoors for the week during the heavy rain that occurred at lal. The radio had picked up the ATIS; although with squelch and static and was probably working until I turned a couple of times to line up; where it made a squealing noise and loud static noise and then I was unable to hear or transmit. Water was dripping in the cabin from above the panel. At the departure controller; I pointed to my headset to indicate a lost comm and the one of the two persons on the departure stand used a rapidly rotating arm signal that appeared to indicated to me to go or depart. Since the NOTAM says follow red shirted personnel instructions; I then departed. I believe the controllers should have light guns so that when there is a comm problem; the light signal could be used to give me a better departure or a light return to the starting point; rather than a hand signal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Stinson pilot reports radio failure while waiting to depart Sun N Fun and signals this fact to the Controller at the runway end. The Controller responds with a rapidly rotating arm signal which the reporter assumes to be a takeoff clearance and does so.

Narrative: When taxiing to line up and wait for departure at Sun n Fun; my radio failed completely (only one working radio) due to what appears to be rain water falling down from my panel and shorting the radio contacts. My airplane is always hangared; but it had been left outdoors for the week during the heavy rain that occurred at LAL. The radio had picked up the ATIS; although with squelch and static and was probably working until I turned a couple of times to line up; where it made a squealing noise and loud static noise and then I was unable to hear or transmit. Water was dripping in the cabin from above the panel. At the Departure Controller; I pointed to my headset to indicate a lost comm and the one of the two persons on the departure stand used a rapidly rotating arm signal that appeared to indicated to me to GO or depart. Since the NOTAM says follow red shirted personnel instructions; I then departed. I believe the controllers should have light guns so that when there is a comm problem; the light signal could be used to give me a better departure or a light return to the starting point; rather than a hand signal.

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.

Attributes
ACN	941515
Time
Date	201104
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	LAL.Airport
State Reference	FL
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	VHF
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10 Flight Crew Total 1000 Flight Crew Type 40
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown

Stinson pilot reports radio failure while waiting to depart sun north fun and signals this fact to the controller at the runway end. The controller responds with a rapidly rotating arm signal which the reporter assumes to be a takeoff clearance and does so.