Ever had a full primary GPS/Nav/Comm failure?

Ever had your primary gps/Nav/comm go fubar?


  • Total voters
    38
I don’t know that I’ve ever had a full failure (loss of Nav/comm AND gps), but definitely had a few failures in Garmin 430/530s that rendered the GPS navigation side effectively worthless.

All of those failures happened on the road, and fortunately occurred in VMC

Most common failures have been data cards just dying, but also various screen failures and an antenna issue.
 
I've had a GPS failure in a rental 172 just short of Reid Hillview, which has adjoining Class B (SFO) and Class C (SJC). My geeky non-pilot coworker with a keen interest in aviation had been tracking the flight on a tablet using some free app, which did in fact depict airspace.

It wasn't a big deal anyway as it was time to call RHV's tower, still comforting to know where you are at regarding airspace.
 
Never had a GPS failure other than planned GPS jamming practice at White Sands.

I did have a total electrical failure in the Aspen Avionics Digital Flight Display. In the clouds. At least it was daytime so I could see that I was not seeing anything.

Turned out to be a power to the display problem.
 
Interestingly, running about 50/50 for the highly reliable and confident web poll.

The background of my question was looking at my #2 radio and going "do I leave it until the magic smoke comes out (on condition mx), swap it and its CDI in the next couple years for a newer digital nav/comm (preventative mx), or plan on going full GPS/Nav/Comm as an upgrade?"
 
What do you have now that is your primary Nav/Com?
 
"do I leave it until the magic smoke comes out (on condition mx), swap it and its CDI in the next couple years for a newer digital nav/comm (preventative mx), or plan on going full GPS/Nav/Comm as an upgrade?"
Trig TX56A with a GI275 is one possible route. The built-in GPS will give you en route guidance but then you'd have to get on the VOR MON and fly an ILS. But if you have the cash for a full GPS/NAV/COM along with a place to put the second GPS antenna, why not?
 
Yes, I have a GTN750 and a GMA 35. I don't think I have a separate circuit breaker for the gtn, and if I do I'm pretty sure it's the non-pullable type. She's going in for avionics work next month, so I should probably have them put in a pullable type breaker.

In our Citation, with twin 750's, there are breakers for Com1, Nav1, Com2, Nav2 and one for the GMA 35. In the book it says to pull the breaker for the 35, if you have a problem with the 35, and coms will revert to #2 Com. I have tested it and it worked. Bottom line you need to read about your installation/STC.
 
Yup, about 5 years ago in a rental C182 inbound to PCM, just under the edge of the Tampa Class B. GNS 530W shut off about 25 minutes from destination, right at dusk as the last bits of sunlight were disappearing over the ocean.

I knew the area well and weather was VFR, so it was a non-event.
 
Back
Top