CH7A STUDENT PLT HAD LOSS OF COM WITH CYS TWR AFTER TWR RADIO FAILURE.

Narrative

I WAS ON A SOLO XCOUNTRY FLT TO CYS. I CONTACTED THE TWR WHILE ABOUT 12 MI S AND WAS TOLD TO CALL A 2 MI BASE FOR RWY 30. THERE WAS A C130 PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GOES AND A LCL COMMUTER PLANE LNDG; BOTH USING RWY 26. A CESSNA WAS IN THE PATTERN FOR RWY 30. I CALLED THE 2 BASES AND I THINK THAT I GOT CLRNC TO LAND. WHEN I TURNED FINAL; I WAS EXPECTING THE TWR TO RESPOND AGAIN. THE ATIS RPTED WIND AT 330 DEGS AT 9 KTS; BUT AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL IT WAS CONSIDERABLY MORE. I WAS FLYING A CITABRIA (TAILWHEEL) AND IT WAS TAKING A LOT OF CONCENTRATION TO REMAIN ALIGNED WITH THE RWY. I COULD NOT REMEMBER IF I HAD GOTTEN THE FINAL 'CLRED TO LAND RWY 30' REPLY FROM THE TWR; SO I CALLED THE TWR AND ASKED IF I WAS CLRED TO LAND TO VERIFY MYSELF. THE CESSNA CALLED ITS POS IN THE PATTERN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THE VOICE WAS THE TWR. WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE TWR HAD NOT RESPONDED; I WAS ABOUT 75 FT AGL ABOVE THE RWY; CONCENTRATING ON THE XWIND LNDG. I CALLED THE TWR AGAIN; ASKING IF I WAS CLRED TO LAND AND GOT NO RESPONSE. THE CESSNA COMMENTED THAT HE WAS NOT HEARING THE TWR EITHER. IT STARTED TO DAWN ON ME THAT I HAD NOT HEARD THE TWR RESPOND TO ANYONE IN THE LAST 2 MINS. I BECAME PANICKY; NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO. I WAS ABOUT 25 FT AGL; THE RWY WAS CLR AND I COULD STOP LONG BEFORE THE INTERSECTING RWY; SO I LANDED. AS I ROLLED OUT TO A STOP; THE TWR CAME ON FREQ WITH ANOTHER RADIO. THE TWR CTLR ASKED IF THIS RADIO WORKED AND THEN ASKED ME IF I HAD SEEN THE LIGHT. IN THE CONCENTRATION IT TAKES TO LAND A TAILWHEEL; I DON'T REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE TWR OR SEEING A LIGHT IN THE TWR -- ESPECIALLY IN THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. IT SHOOK ME UP PRETTY BAD AND ALL I COULD TELL THE CTLR WAS THAT I COULD HEAR HIS RADIO AND THAT I WAS A STUDENT PLT. I HAD BEEN WORRIED THAT IF I WENT AROUND; I MIGHT FLY INTO THE PATH OF THE C130. WHILE TAXIING TO RWY 30; THE WORDS OF MY INSTRUCTOR CAME TO MIND: 'IF YOU DO NOT GET A CLRNC TO LAND -- DON'T!' I CANNOT TELL YOU IF I WAS CLRED TO LAND OR NOT. BECAUSE OF MY UNCERTAINTY; I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT I DID NOT GET CLRNC VIA THE RADIO. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT COLOR LIGHT THEY WERE SHINING AT ME. LESSONS LEARNED: THIS WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A RADIO FAILURE. LOOK AT THE TWR WHEN IN DOUBT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY; IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT; GO AROUND. FAR 91.127(D) TALKS ABOUT COM FAILURE OF THE ACFT RADIO. PART 2 SPEAKS TO VFR FLT AND THAT THE PLT MAY LAND IF (II) VISUAL CONTACT IS MAINTAINED WITH THE TWR AND (III) A CLRNC TO LAND IS RECEIVED. ALTHOUGH THIS DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT A TWR RADIO FAILURE; I FEEL THAT I MAY HAVE VIOLATED SUBPART (II) AND POSSIBLY (III) ABOVE. THEY MAY HAVE SHONE A GREEN LIGHT AT ME; BUT I AM NOT SURE.