Very small amount of water spilled on console caused total communication failure.

Attributes
ACN	234222
Time
Date	199302
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dny
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 23000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	234222
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

En route from ord to hpn (white plains, ny). Less than 1 ounce of water spilled on center console causing the eventual loss of all communications during descent near the delancey VOR at FL230 in IMC. Followed FAA loss of communications procedure. Entered VMC at about 6000 MSL and landed at hpn VFR. Talked to hpn tower operator after landing. 1) I was amazed at what a small spill it took to knock out all of our communications. It's hard to believe that they still manufacture airplanes that are that susceptible to water spills. This was not an old airplane (medium large transport). 2) our airline provides covers for crew drink cups, however this drink was delivered in a plastic passenger drink cup. It's too much to expect that covers and crew cups will always be available. It's just not possible. 3) hpn tower gave us light signals which were never seen, even though we looked carefully for them. Apparently the signal light was inoperative.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER SPILLED ON CONSOLE CAUSED TOTAL COM FAILURE.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM ORD TO HPN (WHITE PLAINS, NY). LESS THAN 1 OUNCE OF WATER SPILLED ON CTR CONSOLE CAUSING THE EVENTUAL LOSS OF ALL COMS DURING DSCNT NEAR THE DELANCEY VOR AT FL230 IN IMC. FOLLOWED FAA LOSS OF COMS PROC. ENTERED VMC AT ABOUT 6000 MSL AND LANDED AT HPN VFR. TALKED TO HPN TWR OPERATOR AFTER LNDG. 1) I WAS AMAZED AT WHAT A SMALL SPILL IT TOOK TO KNOCK OUT ALL OF OUR COMS. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY STILL MANUFACTURE AIRPLANES THAT ARE THAT SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER SPILLS. THIS WAS NOT AN OLD AIRPLANE (MLG). 2) OUR AIRLINE PROVIDES COVERS FOR CREW DRINK CUPS, HOWEVER THIS DRINK WAS DELIVERED IN A PLASTIC PAX DRINK CUP. IT'S TOO MUCH TO EXPECT THAT COVERS AND CREW CUPS WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE. IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE. 3) HPN TWR GAVE US LIGHT SIGNALS WHICH WERE NEVER SEEN, EVEN THOUGH WE LOOKED CAREFULLY FOR THEM. APPARENTLY THE SIGNAL LIGHT WAS INOP.

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.