Date: 201903
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ELP.Airport, TX
Flight conditions: Marginal
Weather elements / visibility: Haze / Smoke; Turbulence; 3
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C; 210D
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZAB
Aircraft component: GPS & Other Satellite Navigation
Component problem: Failed; Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Single Pilot; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Human-Machine Interface; Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Airspace Violation All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: While cruising at 6;500 and monitoring ATIS from ELP I encountered moderate to severe turbulence. The route is between ELP Class C airspace and restricted area 5103A. I attempted to maintain altitude between 5;000 and 7;000 feet. I had good ground contact visibility and flight visibility of estimated 3-5 miles. ELP was reporting scattered at 7;000 and broken at 9;000 with 3 miles visibility with blowing dust. ADS-B weather was showing improving weather and both LRU and DMN were reporting clear.Since the shortest route was ahead I decided to continue and not reverse course. As I neared the EWM VOR both my Garmin GTN 750 and 480 GPS receivers lost all satellite reception. My Garmin portable with panel mounted antenna continued to receive satellite reception and I used it for navigation. It also lost reception briefly about 5 miles west of EWM; but reestablished quickly. I tried to contact ELP approach but was unable. At approximately 10 miles West of EWM sky conditions were clear and visibility was unlimited. I landed at [my destination] and when my wheels touched down both Garmin receivers regained satellite reception. I have flown this route many times over the past 15 years and never lost satellite reception. The Garmin equipment is 4 years old and software was updated [very recently.] I have never experienced total loss of satellite reception before. I have flown with this equipment over the entire US; Alaska and the Caribbean. I checked my track on the Garmin portable 560 and it appears that I did not enter Class C or R-5103A; but because of possible navigational error I may have entered the air space. I have extensive experience in electronics and have a FCC commercial operator license. I believe the problem was caused by static electricity build up on the airframe; since the problem resolved on touch down and the portable GPS receiver was not effected since the antenna was inside the aircraft. Had I been on a RNAV approach this loss could have signal could have caused an accident. I did attempt to switch to VOR navigation; but the combination of turbulence and close proximity to the VOR made using the NAVAID difficult.If static electricity caused the loss navigation and location reporting with ADS-B this will be a serious issue when GPS nav is our only option.

Callback: Pilot advised  Garmin did not have an answer. Garmin assumed like the reporter that the cause of the problem was static build up. A build up of dust was also found on the aircraft after the flight which the reporter washed off after landing. Reporter hopes that this report will help others who may encounter the same problem.



Synopsis: Cessna 210 pilot reported losing GPS signal while flying; and attributed the loss to possible static electricity.