Medium large transport aircraft over EMI VOR unable to read any of several ZDC frequencys until east...

Attributes
ACN	112363
Time
Date	198905
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : emi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival star : star enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5700 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	112363
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on the bwi westminster one arrival (mgw-EMI1). Approaching EMI VORTAC we were on washington center frequency. We began to get bleed over transmissions from other frequencys which soon blocked any reception of our assigned frequency 135.15(?) as we arrived at EMI VORTAC we were attempting transmissions but heard no replies. We passed EMI, the last fix on the arrival, without receiving a vector due to the lack of communication. We tried several more transmissions but could not understand the weak garbled replies. We returned to our previous frequency but had great difficulty hearing the new frequency they assigned us. By the time we made readable center contact we were 26 DME beyond EMI. Center should give at least an 'expect' vector long prior to the last fix on an arrival. Even without a break in communication it is not unusual to not be given a vector prior to crossing the last fix on a STAR. The result is we are flying 'uncontrolled' and off airway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG ACFT OVER EMI VOR UNABLE TO READ ANY OF SEVERAL ZDC FREQS UNTIL EAST OF EMI AT 15,000.

Narrative: WE WERE ON THE BWI WESTMINSTER ONE ARRIVAL (MGW-EMI1). APCHING EMI VORTAC WE WERE ON WASHINGTON CENTER FREQ. WE BEGAN TO GET BLEED OVER TRANSMISSIONS FROM OTHER FREQS WHICH SOON BLOCKED ANY RECEPTION OF OUR ASSIGNED FREQ 135.15(?) AS WE ARRIVED AT EMI VORTAC WE WERE ATTEMPTING TRANSMISSIONS BUT HEARD NO REPLIES. WE PASSED EMI, THE LAST FIX ON THE ARRIVAL, WITHOUT RECEIVING A VECTOR DUE TO THE LACK OF COM. WE TRIED SEVERAL MORE TRANSMISSIONS BUT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE WEAK GARBLED REPLIES. WE RETURNED TO OUR PREVIOUS FREQ BUT HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY HEARING THE NEW FREQ THEY ASSIGNED US. BY THE TIME WE MADE READABLE CENTER CONTACT WE WERE 26 DME BEYOND EMI. CENTER SHOULD GIVE AT LEAST AN 'EXPECT' VECTOR LONG PRIOR TO THE LAST FIX ON AN ARRIVAL. EVEN WITHOUT A BREAK IN COM IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO NOT BE GIVEN A VECTOR PRIOR TO XING THE LAST FIX ON A STAR. THE RESULT IS WE ARE FLYING 'UNCONTROLLED' AND OFF AIRWAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Medium large transport aircraft over EMI VOR unable to read any of several ZDC frequencys until east of EMI at 15,000.