Radio communication problem creates a loss of radio contact.

Attributes
ACN	191730
Time
Date	199110
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bos
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : bos tracon : bos tower : bos tracon : sna
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	191730
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	191887
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

At the above locale we experienced a second radio failure which resulted in a total loss of communication. We had squawked 7600 at this point and attempted contact on various frequencys. Contact was made with boston (logan) tower which switched us to a center frequency for descent. We had asked whether or not we could remain on that frequency due to our radio problems. We were switched 2 or 3 more times which resulted in another lost communication due to radio failure/mischannelization! We had been cleared visually to 4L and landed after receiving clearance from ground control. Suggestion: minimize frequency changes while aircraft is experiencing radio difficulties. Supplemental information from acn 191887. Approaching gardner VOR I was concerned that we had not been cleared for a descent and asked the captain to ask for one. Properly, tried several radios/frequencys, none worked. They confirmed we were squawking 7600, switched us to an approach frequency where we were told to squawk XXXX and descend for visual to 4L at bos. Entering left base we were switched to another frequency. Again the radio wouldn't channelize properly. Finally on short final captain raised bos ground control and after several seconds (channel was full of ground radio traffic) was able to get a request for clearance to land in. Ground complained that we were on ground and only after being told that our radio didn't work were we cleared to land. Supplemental information from acn 191715. Began squawking 7700/7600 and continued to try various boston frequencys. Finally got boston tower at 24000 ft on top field. Told boston tower we were having radio problems and asked them to coordination a descent, tower said they were unable and they handed us off to another approach controller. After reselecting frequency several times got boston approach. While being vectored for visual, approach control handed us off to tower. Unable to get radio channelized to bos tower frequency, tried ground asked for landing clearance. They told us to contact tower. Captain replied unable due to radio problems. Ground authorized landing clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADIO COM PROBLEM CREATES A LOSS OF RADIO CONTACT.

Narrative: AT THE ABOVE LOCALE WE EXPERIENCED A SECOND RADIO FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF COM. WE HAD SQUAWKED 7600 AT THIS POINT AND ATTEMPTED CONTACT ON VARIOUS FREQS. CONTACT WAS MADE WITH BOSTON (LOGAN) TWR WHICH SWITCHED US TO A CENTER FREQ FOR DSCNT. WE HAD ASKED WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD REMAIN ON THAT FREQ DUE TO OUR RADIO PROBLEMS. WE WERE SWITCHED 2 OR 3 MORE TIMES WHICH RESULTED IN ANOTHER LOST COM DUE TO RADIO FAILURE/MISCHANNELIZATION! WE HAD BEEN CLRED VISUALLY TO 4L AND LANDED AFTER RECEIVING CLRNC FROM GND CTL. SUGGESTION: MINIMIZE FREQ CHANGES WHILE ACFT IS EXPERIENCING RADIO DIFFICULTIES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 191887. APCHING GARDNER VOR I WAS CONCERNED THAT WE HAD NOT BEEN CLRED FOR A DSCNT AND ASKED THE CAPT TO ASK FOR ONE. PROPERLY, TRIED SEVERAL RADIOS/FREQS, NONE WORKED. THEY CONFIRMED WE WERE SQUAWKING 7600, SWITCHED US TO AN APCH FREQ WHERE WE WERE TOLD TO SQUAWK XXXX AND DSND FOR VISUAL TO 4L AT BOS. ENTERING L BASE WE WERE SWITCHED TO ANOTHER FREQ. AGAIN THE RADIO WOULDN'T CHANNELIZE PROPERLY. FINALLY ON SHORT FINAL CAPT RAISED BOS GND CTL AND AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS (CHANNEL WAS FULL OF GND RADIO TFC) WAS ABLE TO GET A REQUEST FOR CLRNC TO LAND IN. GND COMPLAINED THAT WE WERE ON GND AND ONLY AFTER BEING TOLD THAT OUR RADIO DIDN'T WORK WERE WE CLRED TO LAND. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 191715. BEGAN SQUAWKING 7700/7600 AND CONTINUED TO TRY VARIOUS BOSTON FREQS. FINALLY GOT BOSTON TWR AT 24000 FT ON TOP FIELD. TOLD BOSTON TWR WE WERE HAVING RADIO PROBLEMS AND ASKED THEM TO COORD A DSCNT, TWR SAID THEY WERE UNABLE AND THEY HANDED US OFF TO ANOTHER APCH CTLR. AFTER RESELECTING FREQ SEVERAL TIMES GOT BOSTON APCH. WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR VISUAL, APCH CTL HANDED US OFF TO TWR. UNABLE TO GET RADIO CHANNELIZED TO BOS TWR FREQ, TRIED GND ASKED FOR LNDG CLRNC. THEY TOLD US TO CONTACT TWR. CAPT REPLIED UNABLE DUE TO RADIO PROBLEMS. GND AUTHORIZED LNDG CLRNC.

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.