Loss of communications due to inoperative receiver.

Attributes
ACN	281053
Time
Date	199408
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pfn
State Reference	FL
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pfn
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : missed approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Cessna Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
ASRS Report	281053
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On aug/tue/94 I was working the local position in panama city, fl, ATCT tower. Uga X, PA32 was on a practice NDB approach to runway 14. Uga Y, a C210, was disabled on runway 32 with a blown tire. I tried to establish radio communications at approximately 5 mi with uga X and received no reply. I called him again and received no reply. I asked uga X to identify if he could hear me. I observed the identify when he was approximately 2 mi out and instructed him to execute his climb (270/20) and remain clear of runway 14 which he did. I then realized that 120.5 standby receiver was selected and switched to main receiver and was able to hear uga X. The standby receiver was selected because we were having trouble hearing a vehicle on the sowell ramp. Panama city, fl ATCT has experienced numerous communication problems in the past 2 weeks. I feel these problems are not only related to stvs but to the apparent lack of knowledge and ability to maintain the system by airport facilities personnel. The standby receiver was supposed to be in service at the time of the incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF COMMUNICATIONS DUE TO INOP RECEIVER.

Narrative: ON AUG/TUE/94 I WAS WORKING THE LCL POS IN PANAMA CITY, FL, ATCT TWR. UGA X, PA32 WAS ON A PRACTICE NDB APCH TO RWY 14. UGA Y, A C210, WAS DISABLED ON RWY 32 WITH A BLOWN TIRE. I TRIED TO ESTABLISH RADIO COMS AT APPROX 5 MI WITH UGA X AND RECEIVED NO REPLY. I CALLED HIM AGAIN AND RECEIVED NO REPLY. I ASKED UGA X TO IDENT IF HE COULD HEAR ME. I OBSERVED THE IDENT WHEN HE WAS APPROX 2 MI OUT AND INSTRUCTED HIM TO EXECUTE HIS CLB (270/20) AND REMAIN CLR OF RWY 14 WHICH HE DID. I THEN REALIZED THAT 120.5 STANDBY RECEIVER WAS SELECTED AND SWITCHED TO MAIN RECEIVER AND WAS ABLE TO HEAR UGA X. THE STANDBY RECEIVER WAS SELECTED BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE HEARING A VEHICLE ON THE SOWELL RAMP. PANAMA CITY, FL ATCT HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS COM PROBS IN THE PAST 2 WKS. I FEEL THESE PROBS ARE NOT ONLY RELATED TO STVS BUT TO THE APPARENT LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE SYS BY ARPT FACILITIES PERSONNEL. THE STANDBY RECEIVER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN SVC AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

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.