Date: 201505
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: UNV.Airport, PA
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: SR22
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZNY
ATC / advisory: Center ZNY
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Other / Unknown
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: I was on an IFR flight plan and was given a full route clearance; but after the first few legs I was cleared direct from TALLI intersection to my destination. I was speaking to New York [CENTER] at the time of the incident. I did a radio check at about XA:50 to XA:55 AM. Got a 'loud and clear' response from New York. At XB:08 I noticed that the controllers voice had changed and the transmissions had become somewhat fuzzy. I attempted to speak to the controller and received no response. At XB:10; after several attempts to raise the controller I contacted the tower at University Park Field on 128.7 and asked for the frequency of the next appropriate controller. I was given Cleveland 124.4. I immediately checked in with Cleveland; continued my flight and landed without incident. This is the second time this has happened to me on this route. The first time it happened a little further down the road when I was talking to Mansfield. I feel pretty sure that in both cases that I did not receive a handoff. But I cannot be certain of that. It is possible that in one or both cases; I received a handoff and missed it. What I AM certain of is that in both cases if I DID receive a handoff and missed it on the first attempt; neither controller attempted to contact me a second time when I did not respond to their initial handoff. The first time this happened to me I did not file a report about it here. When I re-established contact with Ft Wayne; I was given a number to call; called it; spoke with a controller who seemed confused as to why I was calling him. I was later contacted by the FAA; spoke with an investigator and received a 'warning'. I am filing a report this time because; since receiving the first 'warning' I am very diligent about doing radio checks when the frequency I am on gets quiet and I note the time of every interaction with controllers. So it is distressing to me to have had it happen a second time in the same area of the country. I wonder if other pilots have experienced similar problems in the area? It seems to be a complex area for controllers; with multiple handoffs over relatively short legs. It would be understandable to me if other pilots were missing handoffs. I hope this report is helpful. Obviously I intend to double down on my attentiveness after a second occurrence. And if there are issues in the area I hope this report helps to lead to a solution.




Synopsis: SR22 pilot experiences lost communications in the vicinity of UNV at 8000 feet; an area where he had experienced lost communications previously. Communication is regained on a different frequency and the radio appears to operate normally.