PVT PLT OF A SMA ENTERED A RESTR AREA DUE TO INFLT WX ENCOUNTER RESULTING IN A FLT ASSIST FROM ATC.

Narrative

I WAS FLYING ON A HDG OF 125 DEGS FROM A LINE W OF FORT SMITH; ARKANSAS; ON A VFR FLT. MY FLT ORIGINATED AT SUNDANCE AIRPARK (HSD); OKLAHOMA CITY; OKLAHOMA. I HAD FILED A FLT PLAN WITH FSS MCALISTER AND HAD VFR FOLLOWING FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO FORT SMITH; ARKANSAS TO HOT SPRINGS; ARKANSAS TO DESTIN; FLORIDA. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH ZME WHO INFORMED ME ABOUT THE WX AT FORT SMITH AND IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA. WITH ZME ADVISEMENT I WAS PROCEEDING CLR OF THE WX DIRECT TO HOT SPRINGS ARKANSAS. WX ABRUPTLY CHANGED WHEN I WAS SE OF FORT SMITH TO LESS THAN VFR. I; THEREFORE; MADE A STANDARD COORDINATED TIMED TURN TO A WESTERLY DIRECTION. I RECOGNIZED THIS AS AN EXTREME EMERGENCY AND I KNEW I MUST TAKE WHATEVER PROCS NECESSARY TO EXTRACT MYSELF FROM THIS ADVERSE WX CONDITION THAT HAD SUDDENLY ENVELOPED ME. BECAUSE OF THE ADVERSE WX CONDITIONS; I UNKNOWINGLY LOST RECEPTION ON MY #2 RADIO. MY RECEIVER HAD FAILED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. WITH THE EXTREME TURB MY DIRECTIONAL GYRO PROCESSED AND I WAS FLYING OFF MY STANDBY COMPASS. THE #1 THING IN MY MIND WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE FIRST. I FLEW ON A WESTERLY HDG BASED ON A TIMED STANDARD RATE TURN. THIS BROUGHT ME OVER THE RESTR AREA OF FORT CHAFFEE. BECAUSE OF THE HARD DRIVING RAIN MY FORWARD VISION WAS RESTR. BEFORE I CHANGED COURSE; I COULD SEE LATTERLY AND DOWNWARD FROM MY POS OF 11500 FT. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO DSND AS I TURNED. I HAD REDUCED MY SPD TO MANEUVERING SPD. I RECOGNIZED THAT I WAS OVER FORT CHAFFEE AND RECOGNIZED FORT SMITH ARPT. I CALLED FORT SMITH APCH AND THEY WERE HELPFUL. I CALLED FORT SMITH ON MY #1 RADIO LEAVING ZME ON MY #2 RADIO STILL NOT AWARE THAT RECEPTION HAD FAILED ON THE #2 RADIO. I WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE PROFESSIONAL AND HELPFUL ATTITUDE OF THE CTLRS AT FORT SMITH.