Date: 202103
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: U90.TRACON, AZ
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Night
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Landing
Airspace: Class C TUS
ATC / advisory: TRACON U90; Tower TUS
Aircraft component: GPS & Other Satellite Navigation
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Single Pilot; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: I was traveling from ZZZ to ZZZ1. I experienced radio and GPS problems when trying to activate the runway lights at ZZZ1 around XA:00 local. After 3 attempts to activate the runway lights; I contacted Tucson Approach to see if there were any other ideas to help get the runway lights on. They called the airport to see if Customs was there. As no one was there; I was reaching my personal fuel reserve of 1 hour. The radio I have installed is GNS 430W. I had also had intermittent GPS signal; which resulted in no ADSB. Tucson Approach offered ZZZ2 as an alternate; but the airport was closed for the night. I felt it was much safer to go to TUS; as it has a host of FBO's and services available 24/7. I estimate that my radio at that time had about a 5 mile range. I lost contact with Approach several times; but I was able to hear the transponder code.As I got closer; Approach advised me that I was to enter a Right Downwind for Runway 11L at 4;000 ft. or above; and that I was cleared to land. They also told me to expect light gun signals from the Tower. I was able to acknowledge that transmission and was handed off to Tower. Tower also had a hard time hearing me; describing it as broken and scratchy. I was receiving Tower just fine; as I was close enough to the airport. I landed on 11L without incident and was given progressive taxi to FBO. Once I arrived and shut down; I asked if they had Maintenance available; which they did not. I parked there overnight until I was able to get an Avionics Tech to look at the airplane the next day. The Technician noticed that the 430W was not seated completely due do the design of the radio stack. He was able to quickly solve the problem. We did radio checks with TUS Ground and listened to the ATIS both over the cabin speaker and headsets. This particular aircraft is new to me; and I had not noticed the issue before as I normally operate out of an uncontrolled field. Now I incorporate a visual inspection of the GNS 430W; the audio panel; and the transponder as part of my preflight inspection; specifically looking to make sure they are seated properly; not loose; and functioning as they should. I took for granted that they had been installed correctly from the previous aircraft owner. I trust Maintenance shops to do work and repairs correctly; but it is now a trust but verify as I am the one responsible for the operation of the aircraft and systems.




Synopsis: Pilot reported experiencing radio and GPS problems when trying to activate the runway lights.