Microphone keyed accidentally causes intermittent tower interference.

Attributes
ACN	173226
Time
Date	199103
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fmy
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : fmy
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	173226
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on a local training flight, the student was nervous and depressed the microphone switch with his leg while doing stalls. In this 1967 aircraft, the microphone is mounted on the pedestal between the seats. The student, while operating the rudder, depressed the microphone switch. I had turned the radio down and couldn't hear the tower calling me. The tower reported the frequency was blocked intermittently for 45 mins. The locale of the microphone has since been moved.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MICROPHONE KEYED ACCIDENTALLY CAUSES INTERMITTENT TWR INTERFERENCE.

Narrative: WHILE ON A LCL TRNING FLT, THE STUDENT WAS NERVOUS AND DEPRESSED THE MIC SWITCH WITH HIS LEG WHILE DOING STALLS. IN THIS 1967 ACFT, THE MIC IS MOUNTED ON THE PEDESTAL BTWN THE SEATS. THE STUDENT, WHILE OPERATING THE RUDDER, DEPRESSED THE MIC SWITCH. I HAD TURNED THE RADIO DOWN AND COULDN'T HEAR THE TWR CALLING ME. THE TWR RPTED THE FREQ WAS BLOCKED INTERMITTENTLY FOR 45 MINS. THE LOCALE OF THE MIC HAS SINCE BEEN MOVED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.