Date: 201211
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 50
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Cessna 152
Operator: FBO
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class D ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Air/Ground Communication
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: FBO
Reporter function: Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control; Person Flight Crew
Result: Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Procedure
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: I went flying on a solo; day VFR flight. Returning to the airport.  I tuned my radio to obtain the ATIS. I was not able to receive the ATIS. I monitored the Tower frequency to see if I could hear any of the controllers or traffic in the airspace. I did not pick up any radio transmissions. During this time I switched back to the ATIS and could not receive the weather. At that point I decided to contact Tower hoping my radio would transmit and I would be able to receive the Tower's response.  I did a series of 360 degree turns while communicating my intentions to land; waiting for a response. I made an initial radio call to the Tower stating: '[Call sign] is 6 NM to the North inbound full stop. I have failed radios and need light signals to land.' I waited for a response; did not receive one; and did not hear the Tower communicating with other planes in the airspace. I realized my radios had completely failed and I had a radio emergency. I continued to [a nearby airport].When I felt it was safe to start moving closer to the runway; I entered the Class D airspace. I felt moving closer to the runway environment within the airspace would help me obtain a better visual of the Tower and any light gun signals.  I never received any signals. I was not able to receive or transmit on my radios.  I continued updating my position from the airport; asked for light gun signals; and continued to re-transmit my initial call to the Tower at least 3 or 4 times.  While enroute to enter the traffic pattern. When I circled outside the pattern and determined the runway in use; I made radio calls on the CTAF frequency in the event that my radios did start transmitting.  I landed the aircraft safely; and taxied off the runway. I called over the radio and pulled onto the ramp and parked. I then called the FBO asking them if they wanted me to leave the plane for Maintenance or bring it back.  They sent an instructor with a small hand held radio to use to bring the plane back to [the departure airport]. I still was not able to transmit or receive with the radios on the airplane. At this point I had a good handheld radio that would allow me to communicate to the Tower so I squawked the standard 1200 VFR transponder code. I conducted my run-up on the ramp. I ended up making all my radio calls with the handheld radio; as well as monitoring the weather; CTAF; and Tower frequencies. I could hear the Tower talking to the other traffic in the pattern and clearing them for takeoffs and landings. However; the Controller never addressed my call sign; or indicated that he heard my radio transmissions. I waited a few minutes before making the same call again. I did not get any response from Tower. At this point I knew my handheld radio was not transmitting; but I could hear the Tower and the surrounding traffic. I realized I was having another radio failure emergency requiring me to squawk 7600. I entered the Class D airspace to wait for light gun signals. I moved to within 4 NM of the runway environment and continued doing 360 degree turns while I waited to receive light signals from the Tower.  I continued to update my position; intentions; and continued to request light signals; explaining I had weather information Golf; two more times. I was circling in the airspace for at least 10 minutes; never received light signals; or a transmission asking about my intentions. I heard the Tower at one point on talking about an aircraft doing 360 degree turns; the Controller was advising another aircraft; or helicopter traffic that the intentions of the unidentified plane in the airspace were unknown.  I had enough space to observe the traffic in the airport pattern.  I made radio calls with my handheld radio on the CTAF frequency.  I initially called and reported that I was 3 NM to the West and would be entering the 45 for a right downwind to Runway 15 for a full stop landing; and that I had a radio failure emergency. I determined the traffic in the pattern had landed on the runway and I began to fly the 45 to set up on right downwind for Runway XX. I also made the standard radio calls for my right base leg as well as final leg for a full stop landing on Runway XX.I received a call from the Tower and explained everything that happened in detail.... From that conversation I learned that a safer course of action next time I experience a radio failure emergency would be to land; call the Tower via cell phone while still on the ground; explain the radio failure problem to the Controller; and then come up with a plan of action with the Controller that involves coordinating a time that I will be entering the Class D airspace area with radio communication failure.




Synopsis: C152 pilot experienced a radio failure after takeoff and landed at another airport without receiving any light signals from the Tower. After obtaining a handheld radio; the Pilot departed; lost communication again and landed at the original departure airport without receiving any light signals. Pilot was subsequently advised by ATC that he should have called the Tower via phone after the first landing.