Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30.2; Flight Crew Total 1260.4; Flight Crew Type 351.2
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Troubleshooting
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
While on IFR flight plan; contact with Chicago Center was lost. This occurred in the same area where radio coverage is known to be poor according to a radio communication I had with ATC on a previous flight. ATC informed me during that previous flight that it is a 'known dead spot'. Upon realizing that some time had gone by since I last received radio contact from Chicago Center during my flight today; I presumed that I had gotten out of range to receive radio transmissions from them. I looked up the closest frequency on my low IFR chart and contacted Kansas City Center on 126.225. I was informed by the Kansas City Center controller that I should call Chicago Center regarding a possible pilot deviation upon arriving at my destination. I believe that Chicago Center tried to contact me while I was in the area of poor radio coverage at 6000 ft MSL; but I was not able to hear them. I should have realized it sooner; but approximately 30 minutes had gone by before I realized radio contact had been lost. In the future; I will monitor frequency 121.5 when practical during cruise flight and check in on the assigned frequency more quickly should I have reason to believe I may be getting out of range for radio coverage or if I have not had radio contact with ATC for more than 15 minutes. It might also be helpful upon initial contact for ATC to routinely inform/remind pilots flying through that area that radio coverage might be lost and which frequency should be used to re-establish radio contact with ATC in such event.
Pilot reports of a loss of communication with ATC in a known dead spot for radio communication.