Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50.6; Flight Crew Total 832.3; Flight Crew Type 66.7
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft; Human Factors
When I was about 10 minutes from Fort Myers airspace; the radios began fading badly. I told the Controller; and he gave me 126.8 for Fort Myers if I lost him. I could barely hear him when he told me to switch over. When I tried to check in; ATC could not hear me. I could hear them; but they couldn't hear me. I continued to try to check in thinking when I got closer; they would be able to hear. Finally they told me to ident if I could hear them. I did; and we began communication that way. I was flying in severe clear night VFR; and I was headed into IMC on the east coast. I was about 90 NM out with 100+ to go. It did not seem safe to continue the flight into IMC without radio communication. I tried to call ATC and cancel the IFR flight plan so I could return to base. They still could not hear me. I continued on course hoping they would pick me up; but it never happened. I finally decided I could not continue for the safety of the flight. I turned around; dropped to the VFR altitude of 6;500; set a direct course to PIE; and changed the squawk code to 1200. The Controller came on and said she still considered me on an IFR flight plan; and that I needed to climb back to 7;000 and fly on course. As I continued toward PIE; another Controller came on; and said he understood I wanted to return to PIE. I pressed ident to acknowledge. He then told me to drop to 6;000; change my squawk code back to 4662; and they would take me back IFR. He stayed with me; handed me off to Tampa; and they handed me off to the tower at PIE. All communication was done with ident. I know I did not fly Assigned; Vectored; Expected; or Filed; but Safety of Flight dictated that I take other action. I communicated my intentions as best I could by squawking 1200; dropping to a VFR altitude; and setting a course back to base. Apparently one of the controllers got the message; and helped me out of a bad situation.
C172 pilot experiences radio failure on an IFR flight to RSW at night. Knowing that RSW is IMC the pilot elects to return to his departure airport in VMC.