LGT LOSES CONTACT WITH TWR DURING A MISSED APCH.
Synopsis
LGT LOSES CONTACT WITH TWR DURING A MISSED APCH.
Narrative
WE LOST CONTACT WITH DFW TWR FOLLOWING THE CTLR'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR MISSED APCH ON RWY 36L. WE WENT AROUND AFTER ENCOUNTERING BRIEF SEVERE TURB DURING RAPIDLY DETERIORATING SURFACE WX CONDITIONS (ADVANCING LINE OF TRW'S). THE LOSS OF CONTACT CAUSED US TO HAVE TO FLY A LESS THAN DESIRABLE COURSE THROUGH MODERATE TO HVY WX. THERE WAS NO CLRLY APPARENT REASON FOR THE COM BREAKDOWN; WHICH LASTED PROBABLY 1-2 MINS; AND IT CAME AT A CRITICAL TIME. THE CTLR HAD BEEN GIVING US TIMELY; IMPORTANT INFO FROM THE TIME WE CHKED IN. HIS CLRNC TO LAND FOR US WAS ACCOMPANIED BY WIND DIRECTION; SPD AND GUST; AN ALERT THAT WE COULD EXPECT A 20 PLUS KT INCREASE IN AIRSPD AT 200 FT AGL; AND THAT THE PRESSURE WAS RAPIDLY RISING. THIS INFO WAS REPEATED JUST AS WE ENCOUNTERED THE BRIEF SEVERE TURB. WE DETECTED STRESS PRESENCE IN HIS VOICE AS THE SURFACE CONDITIONS WERE CERTAINLY DETERIORATING; AND HIS WORKLOAD WAS INCREASING. ONLY REVIEW OF THE TAPE WOULD CLARIFY HOW LONG THE BREAK TOOK AND WHAT HIS LAST INSTRUCTIONS TO US WERE (I HAVE FORGOTTEN); BUT WE FELT VERY MUCH 'ON OUR OWN' FOR A CONSIDERABLE LENGTH OF TIME. DFW IS NOTORIOUS FOR RAPID FIRE; HIGH PRESSURE CTLING. IN THIS CASE; THE CTLR WAS ON TOP OF THE SITUATION AND OF GREAT ASSISTANCE UNTIL THE BREAK IN XMISSIONS. IN A SIMILAR SITUATION IN THE FUTURE; I WOULD SPECIFICALLY REQUEST A FAVORABLE COURSE IN THE EVENT OF A MISS AND WOULD EXPECT QUICK COORD FROM THE ATC FACILITY.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.