Track heading deviation as flight crew experiences loss of radio contact with approach control.

Attributes
ACN	177924
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : ash
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	177924
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After being told to expect a visibility approach to ord 27R on a base leg vector of 180 degrees, we experienced a loss of communications with approach control. #2 VHF radio was tried twice with no positive results. As we had not been cleared for approach, the captain elected to turn left to avoid the flow of other traffic. Transponder was set to 7700 to initiate loss of communications identify procedures. At this time the captain recognized the problem as a stuck microphone, and after unplugging the defective microphone, communications were reestablished. Aircraft was landed with no further problems. On ground, microphone was written up and maintenance was notified. The above was what the captain elected to do. Initially, when I saw we were going through the final approach course, captain called approach and it was then apparent loss of radios had occurred. I opted to start a turn to runway and use light signals, but captain said to turn left to 090 degrees to stay out of traffic flow. I did as instructed during this critical phase of flight. WX was VFR. I did as instructed. Turned out well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACK HEADING DEVIATION AS FLT CREW EXPERIENCES LOSS OF RADIO CONTACT WITH APCH CTL.

Narrative: AFTER BEING TOLD TO EXPECT A VIS APCH TO ORD 27R ON A BASE LEG VECTOR OF 180 DEGS, WE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF COMS WITH APCH CTL. #2 VHF RADIO WAS TRIED TWICE WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. AS WE HAD NOT BEEN CLRED FOR APCH, THE CAPT ELECTED TO TURN LEFT TO AVOID THE FLOW OF OTHER TFC. XPONDER WAS SET TO 7700 TO INITIATE LOSS OF COMS IDENT PROCS. AT THIS TIME THE CAPT RECOGNIZED THE PROB AS A STUCK MIC, AND AFTER UNPLUGGING THE DEFECTIVE MIC, COMS WERE REESTABLISHED. ACFT WAS LANDED WITH NO FURTHER PROBS. ON GND, MIC WAS WRITTEN UP AND MAINT WAS NOTIFIED. THE ABOVE WAS WHAT THE CAPT ELECTED TO DO. INITIALLY, WHEN I SAW WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE FINAL APCH COURSE, CAPT CALLED APCH AND IT WAS THEN APPARENT LOSS OF RADIOS HAD OCCURRED. I OPTED TO START A TURN TO RWY AND USE LIGHT SIGNALS, BUT CAPT SAID TO TURN LEFT TO 090 DEGS TO STAY OUT OF TFC FLOW. I DID AS INSTRUCTED DURING THIS CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT. WX WAS VFR. I DID AS INSTRUCTED. TURNED OUT WELL.

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.