Air carrier large transport flight crew loses communication with TRACON due finger trouble on approa...

Attributes
ACN	180041
Time
Date	199105
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl tracon : san
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 240
ASRS Report	180041
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During approach to atl airport from the north, the copilot (PNF) reached across the console to tune and identify the captain's (PF) navigation-1 radio to the ILS frequency. After receiving the correct identify signal the copilot mistakenly turned down the communication-1 (approach control) volume. We continued to proceed directly toward the airport on our last assigned heading. One of the pilots stated that we were getting close to the airport and we would need a turn or descent soon (we could clearly see the airport in VMC). The copilot then stated that the radio frequency was very quiet and immediately checked the volume control. With this problem discovered the captain advised the copilot to contact ATC immediately. The copilot contacted approach control and they informed us that they had been attempting to contact us. We were given a vector to the downwind. The remaining approach and landing were normal. As I was completing some final items for the approach on the engineer's panel. I can not say exactly how long the communication-1 volume was turned down.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT FLC LOSES COM WITH TRACON DUE FINGER TROUBLE ON APCH TO ATL.

Narrative: DURING APCH TO ATL ARPT FROM THE N, THE COPLT (PNF) REACHED ACROSS THE CONSOLE TO TUNE AND IDENT THE CAPT'S (PF) NAV-1 RADIO TO THE ILS FREQ. AFTER RECEIVING THE CORRECT IDENT SIGNAL THE COPLT MISTAKENLY TURNED DOWN THE COM-1 (APCH CTL) VOLUME. WE CONTINUED TO PROCEED DIRECTLY TOWARD THE ARPT ON OUR LAST ASSIGNED HDG. ONE OF THE PLTS STATED THAT WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO THE ARPT AND WE WOULD NEED A TURN OR DSNT SOON (WE COULD CLRLY SEE THE ARPT IN VMC). THE COPLT THEN STATED THAT THE RADIO FREQ WAS VERY QUIET AND IMMEDIATELY CHKED THE VOLUME CTL. WITH THIS PROB DISCOVERED THE CAPT ADVISED THE COPLT TO CONTACT ATC IMMEDIATELY. THE COPLT CONTACTED APCH CTL AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THEY HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT US. WE WERE GIVEN A VECTOR TO THE DOWNWIND. THE REMAINING APCH AND LNDG WERE NORMAL. AS I WAS COMPLETING SOME FINAL ITEMS FOR THE APCH ON THE ENGINEER'S PANEL. I CAN NOT SAY EXACTLY HOW LONG THE COM-1 VOLUME WAS TURNED DOWN.

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.

Air carrier large transport flight crew loses communication with TRACON due finger trouble on approach to atl.