ATC equipment problem position communication failure. Air carrier X lost communication with approach...

Attributes
ACN	201825
Time
Date	199202
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	201825
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	201826
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Given a north vector off of the atl VOR 228 degree right of the lagrange STAR. Atl airport was landing east and we were told to expect the ILS to runway 9R at atl and handed off to atlanta approach on 118.35 MHZ and the controller confirmed our approach to be to runway 9R. The vector we were on put us on a base leg to the inbound course. A brief period of time passed when no communication took place on the frequency. I knew we were close to the localizer. I check our radio volume and switches. They were ok. I noticed the runway 9R localizer was going by. I asked ATC if they wanted us to turn inbound. At that time ATC came back and gave us a lower altitude and remarked they had been trying to contact us for the last 8 mi. We were told to set up for the ILS to runway 8L in atl. And vectored to the course. On the approach, inside the FAF we were sent around and given a north vector and resequenced for the runway 8L ILS. The approach and landing were uneventful. On the ground I called the approach control supervisor. He told me they had a 'communication module' failure that may have accounted for our break in communications.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROBLEM POS COM FAILURE. ACR X LOST COM WITH APCH CTL.

Narrative: GIVEN A N VECTOR OFF OF THE ATL VOR 228 DEG R OF THE LAGRANGE STAR. ATL ARPT WAS LNDG E AND WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT THE ILS TO RWY 9R AT ATL AND HANDED OFF TO ATLANTA APCH ON 118.35 MHZ AND THE CTLR CONFIRMED OUR APCH TO BE TO RWY 9R. THE VECTOR WE WERE ON PUT US ON A BASE LEG TO THE INBOUND COURSE. A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME PASSED WHEN NO COM TOOK PLACE ON THE FREQ. I KNEW WE WERE CLOSE TO THE LOC. I CHK OUR RADIO VOLUME AND SWITCHES. THEY WERE OK. I NOTICED THE RWY 9R LOC WAS GOING BY. I ASKED ATC IF THEY WANTED US TO TURN INBOUND. AT THAT TIME ATC CAME BACK AND GAVE US A LOWER ALT AND REMARKED THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT US FOR THE LAST 8 MI. WE WERE TOLD TO SET UP FOR THE ILS TO RWY 8L IN ATL. AND VECTORED TO THE COURSE. ON THE APCH, INSIDE THE FAF WE WERE SENT AROUND AND GIVEN A N VECTOR AND RESEQUENCED FOR THE RWY 8L ILS. THE APCH AND LNDG WERE UNEVENTFUL. ON THE GND I CALLED THE APCH CTL SUPVR. HE TOLD ME THEY HAD A 'COM MODULE' FAILURE THAT MAY HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR OUR BREAK IN COMS.

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.

ATC equipment problem position communication failure. Air carrier X lost communication with approach control.