Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 22; Flight Crew Total 650; Flight Crew Type 450
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Aircraft
During climb I called ATC approach and requested flight following. My #1 comm radio quit working earlier in the day so I was using a handheld. During the cruise portion; my communication with ATC was not consistent and I was having to move my antennae around for reception. As I was getting near [destination area] I could not get ATC to let them know I was going to start my decent. I called several times and ATC was not receiving my transmissions. I then squaked 7600 for lost communications and landed at [planned private destination airport]. Normally I tell ATC on initial call that I am going to [a nearby public airport] because [the private airport] is not in their system and as I get closer I tell them I am going to [the private airport] 10 miles north; which I did. I had also told ATC during the cruise that I had radio problems and I was in fact using a hand held. Later that night the local sheriff came to my house looking for the airplane and I let him in the hangar to verify.After the sheriff left; I called flight service to discuss and let them know what happened.A few minutes later I got a call from ATC and we discussed what happened and he told me they sent out a search. I told him that I thought squawking 7600 would have alerted them that I lost communication and I did not think I needed to take any other action. He told me I should have called flight service after I landed; but he did not think I did anything wrong. I was disappointed that I wasted resources looking for me and learned that I should have called them.
The pilot of a small airplane reported the loss of communication with ATC while enroute to a private airport that had not been shared with ATC. Later; law enforcement located the pilot to confirm a safe arrival.