VFR radio failure: what to do when the radio dies

First, is it really dead?

Most “failures” are a volume knob, a squelch, a headset plug, a frequency with the wrong digit, or a stuck microphone. Check the audio panel, try the other radio if you have one, try the frequency you were last on and 121.5, and listen for your own transmissions on the sidetone. A stuck mic blocks everyone; if nobody has answered anything for a while, look at your own push-to-talk.

Squawk 7600

7600 is the code for communications failure (AIM 4-1-20). It tells every radar controller in range what has happened, and a tower with radar will see it too. Set it as soon as you are sure, and keep flying the airplane.

In VFR conditions: continue VFR and land as soon as practicable

The rule in 14 CFR 91.185, quoted in the AIM, is that a pilot who loses two-way radio in VFR conditions continues under VFR and lands as soon as practicable (AIM 6-4-1 c 2). The AIM adds that “practicable” does not mean “as soon as possible”: you are not required to land at an unsuitable airport or minutes short of your destination (c 2 note). A non-towered airport where you self-announce anyway is the easy answer; a towered one needs the procedure below.

Arriving at a towered airport

Receiver dead, transmitter working. Stay outside or above the Class D until you have worked out the direction and flow of traffic. Then tell the tower your type, position, altitude, that you intend to land, and ask to be controlled by light signals (AIM 4-2-13 a 1 (a)). At three to five miles, transmit your position and join the pattern, watching the tower for lights; if you fly a full pattern, transmit downwind and turning base (a 1 (b)).

Palo Alto Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, receiver inoperative, five miles south, one thousand five hundred, landing Palo Alto, request light signals.

Transmitter dead, receiver working. Same wait outside or above the Class D, then join the pattern, monitor the tower frequency for instructions addressed to you, and watch for a light signal (a 2). The tower may talk to you even though you cannot answer.

Both dead. Wait outside or above until you understand the flow, join the pattern, and keep the tower in sight for light signals (a 3). Squawk 7600 so the tower knows why you are silent.

The light signals

The tower uses a light gun with steady or flashing red, green and white, and the meaning depends on whether you are in the air or on the ground (AIM 4-3-13; TBL 4-3-1). In flight: steady green is cleared to land; flashing green is return for landing, with a steady green to follow at the right time; steady red is give way and continue circling; flashing red is airport unsafe, do not land; alternating red and green is exercise extreme caution. The card below has the full table for the air and the ground.

Acknowledging a signal

By day, rock the wings in flight, or move the ailerons or rudder on the ground; at night, blink the landing or navigation lights (AIM 4-2-13 a 2; 4-3-13 e). At night on the ground, turn on the landing light and taxi clear of the runway to a place the tower can see you, and leave it on until you get a signal (4-3-13 c).

At a non-towered airport

Nobody is controlling you anyway. Fly the standard pattern with extra care, watch for traffic on every leg, and if your transmitter works, keep self-announcing in the blind on the CTAF with the airport name first and last (AIM 4-1-9 g 8). Others may hear you even if you cannot hear them.

Failure before you depart

If the radio fails before you leave the parking area, get it fixed. If you cannot, telephone the tower and ask for authorization to depart without two-way radio; you will be given departure information and told to monitor the tower frequency or watch for light signals (AIM 4-2-13 b). If it fails after you have left parking, watch the tower for lights or monitor the frequency (b).