Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55; Flight Crew Total 1983; Flight Crew Type 261
Distraction; Workload; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Airspace Structure
While en route (northeast bound) along a course running along PWM and BHB I was given a handoff to Bangor Approach. The new frequency was almost non readable. Shortly after contact I requested an IFR clearance to BHB from Approach as conditions ahead were observed to be IFR. I received a communication from Approach that they could approve the IFR. The radio then went quiet and I thought they were working on my clearance. Since I did not receive the clearance and to avoid IMC I started to orbit to the left in the vicinity of IWI which was in view and could be used if needed if IFR was not approved. I made a couple of attempts to contact ATC then made a call in the blind that I was going to return to the previous frequency. After returning to the previous frequency the Controller informed me they had been trying to contact me; and gave me another frequency to try. The new frequency was satisfactory and I had no further communication issues. I can not recall which Controller actually gave me the IFR clearance. From the loss of radio contact until communication was re-established I made one 360 degree turn with approximately a 2 mile radius around IWI. The flight continued to destination IFR with no further issues. This situation could be resolved with improved communication facilities in the area this problem occurred. The aircraft flown has relatively new radio equipment in good working order so it appears to be more of a ground based radio problem.
A pilot reported lost communications because of poor ATC communications facilities after after requesting IFR clearance on a BGR TRACON frequency between PWM and BHB.