Aircraft unable to establish radio contact with center due to ATC transmitter failure.

Attributes
ACN	122658
Time
Date	198909
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bos
State Reference	MA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	122658
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

2 aircraft, scheduled air carrier's departing bos, were handed off to me at the nantucket/cape sector (combined). I was able to receive them, but they were unable to receive me. Through coordination with bos approach, we did get them climbing. I could hear them discussing the need to deviate for WX, which they were forced to do prior to establishing radio contact. The radio transmitter for center failed; buec's did not work. Buec's (backup sites) cycled through all 10 sites and went to error. The box used to change the transmitters and receivers is not located at the sector, which makes it impossible for the controller to remedy the situation quickly.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT UNABLE TO ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT WITH CENTER DUE TO ATC TRANSMITTER FAILURE.

Narrative: 2 ACFT, SCHEDULED ACR'S DEPARTING BOS, WERE HANDED OFF TO ME AT THE NANTUCKET/CAPE SECTOR (COMBINED). I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE THEM, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECEIVE ME. THROUGH COORD WITH BOS APCH, WE DID GET THEM CLBING. I COULD HEAR THEM DISCUSSING THE NEED TO DEVIATE FOR WX, WHICH THEY WERE FORCED TO DO PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING RADIO CONTACT. THE RADIO XMITTER FOR CENTER FAILED; BUEC'S DID NOT WORK. BUEC'S (BACKUP SITES) CYCLED THROUGH ALL 10 SITES AND WENT TO ERROR. THE BOX USED TO CHANGE THE XMITTERS AND RECEIVERS IS NOT LOCATED AT THE SECTOR, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CTLR TO REMEDY THE SITUATION QUICKLY.

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.