Canuck
David Megginson
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 7,085
- Reaction score
- 3,903
My whole avionics stack went dark today just as I was entering cloud at 6,000 ft on my descent for Ottawa. It came back briefly after I cycled the avionics master, then disappeared for good. Ottawa Terminal handled me as a lost-comms primary target for the rest of the way in (fortunately, it was VMC under the clouds, so once I was below, it was just a matter of being NORDO in busy controlled airspace). I still approximated the planned RNAV approach using my tablet (in VMC), so that I'd be doing what they already expected and they wouldn't have to clear too much busy airspace for me.
Basically, everything connected to my avionics master switch (gpscom, navcom, transponder, and ADF) failed, while other electronics (STEC-20 autopilot, etc) continued to work. I suspect the switch itself, since if feels a bit loose, and is an obvious single point of failure. I'll report back when I hear from the shop, hopefully next week.
I assume Nav Canada declared an emergency for me for priority handling, since they had more than one person working on it (one watching me as a primary target on the scope, one calling my destination airport to tell them I was coming in NORDO, etc) -- they didn't say anything about it when I called them after landing, but just checked that I was OK.
If they did declare on my behalf, that would make it officially my first aviation emergency (though it was in no way a difficult or life-threatening one).
Basically, everything connected to my avionics master switch (gpscom, navcom, transponder, and ADF) failed, while other electronics (STEC-20 autopilot, etc) continued to work. I suspect the switch itself, since if feels a bit loose, and is an obvious single point of failure. I'll report back when I hear from the shop, hopefully next week.
I assume Nav Canada declared an emergency for me for priority handling, since they had more than one person working on it (one watching me as a primary target on the scope, one calling my destination airport to tell them I was coming in NORDO, etc) -- they didn't say anything about it when I called them after landing, but just checked that I was OK.
If they did declare on my behalf, that would make it officially my first aviation emergency (though it was in no way a difficult or life-threatening one).
