Eclipse 500
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10.5; Flight Crew Total 3327; Flight Crew Type 620
Workload; Troubleshooting; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation
Aircraft
While flying at flight level 41;000; I was given a frequency change to 135.15 which I acknowledged and attempted to contact the next Controller. I waited and received no response; so I tried again and again to contact the Controller over a ~15 to ~20 minute period. I continued to call numerous times on the previous frequency and the assigned frequency using both transmitters. I then attempted to transmit on frequency 121.5 and still did not receive a reply. I had complete radio failure of the electronic computer controlled radios. I then opened my QRH (Quick Reference Handbook) and followed the instructions for the radio failure attempting to reset the radios via the computer displays; however; nothing worked. My flight plan had earlier been amended by ATC which routed me through a Restricted Area. After about 15 to 20 minutes I was able to reset the radio and reestablish communications. I was then given an amended flight plan direct without further incident. Unfortunately; the new radios that I have in my aircraft were approved without any manual backup which is troubling. When a radio failure occurs in the Eclipse Jet the pilot is at the complete mercy of the automation controlled radios and there is no direct manual switch to engage and there is no backup. If Com 1 goes out there is a good possibility that Com 2 will also fail as they both go through the same controller or mixer. In any case; I believe that it would be in everyone's interest to not approve such automation that can fail both radios at the same time.
An EA50 Pilot reported his computer controlled communications system malfunctioned while flying at FL410. He overcame the malfunction and was issued a new clearance around a restricted area.