Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 17650; Flight Crew Type 35
Distraction; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Diverted
Aircraft; Human Factors
I purchased an [aircraft]. [The owner's pilot] set the radios up for me and loaned me an aviation headset. I programmed one frequency for 122.8; the other at 123.0. We set the Garmin 430 for [the destination airport]. My smartphone with 'Avare' app was also set for [the destination airport] with current VFR charts installed; NOTAMs & NEXRAD. In addition I had a hand held GPS with all US airports programmed in it. About half an hour into the flight I realized I hadn't heard any 'radio chatter' and checked volumes; squelch; and connections; all to no avail. My radios were not working. After another hour of flight my electronic fuel gauges were indicating less than a quarter tank of fuel on each side. I was flying over the mountains of West Virginia and needed to land ASAP. CKB was to my west and is a Class D airport; with my fuel critically low and radios not operating; I made a decision to land.The visibility was unlimited and scanned every direction for air traffic; there was none anywhere. I checked the runway and taxiways for traffic; there was none. I entered left base for 21; turned to final and landed. I taxied to the FBO to refuel. I realized my fuel gauges had given me false readings; I still had half my fuel remaining. I was on the ground for 40 or 45 minutes and no one contacted me by phone at the FBO's building. From the FBO building where I refueled a Tower is not visible anywhere. A huge hangar blocks the view of the airport Tower completely. I only realized this after being confronted by the FAA by phone a week later. Another pilot in [a similar aircraft] helped me with a problem getting my flaps retracted. Then he and I started our engines at the same time and taxied to the north end of the runway and departed to the south. According to the FAA; the Tower stated they never saw me on approach or landing. I had my transponder on and set to 1200. They said they were flashing the 'lights' at me when I left but I never saw them. Again; I think this is due to the location of the Tower. I have never had an FAA violation in 43 years of flying; 40 years operating as an Ag-Pilot. I was ferrying this newly purchased plane back to [my home airport] and had a critical situation develop.
Pilot of a recently-purchased used airplane reported experiencing fuel quantity indication problems on the initial flight. Pilot also reported landing and taking-off at an airport without Tower clearance due to an obstructed view of the Tower.