Lost communication during approach. Hand microphone not attached.

Attributes
ACN	300796
Time
Date	199503
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 1050 flight time type : 1050
ASRS Report	300796
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan just above base of clouds being vectored by approach for a VOR/visual approach to teb. Another plane had just been turned on to final when I lost radio contact with the approach controller and received no other aircraft. Finding this out after I should have been turned on to final approach course I attempted communicating with 2 radios on both the assigned frequency and other published approach frequency and tower without success. I tried broadcasting for 'anyone receiving,' without success. Meanwhile I descended out of the clouds to 2500 ft where I was VFR. I finally established contact with coldwell ground controller (121.9) and through a land line she vectored me back to the final approach. I finally was able to contact teb tower and land. My hand held was not attached to its antenna and having established contact I did not try to use it to say the least my approach was sloppy but I elected to maintain VFR rather than ascend back into the clouds. During the situation I tried 2 head sets (but forgot the free microphone). There was no side band indicating a stuck microphone switch and I was able to talk normally with coldwell and subsequently teb without difficulty. Post landing radio check by a shop found no abnormalities other than a poor microphone on my 2ND head set. The major problem was that contact was lost just before turning on to the final approach course and I thought I was being take past the facility for spacing. Fortunately I was able to descend to VFR and make contact. Next time my hand held will be connected.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOST COM DURING APCH. HAND MIKE NOT ATTACHED.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN JUST ABOVE BASE OF CLOUDS BEING VECTORED BY APCH FOR A VOR/VISUAL APCH TO TEB. ANOTHER PLANE HAD JUST BEEN TURNED ON TO FINAL WHEN I LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH THE APCH CTLR AND RECEIVED NO OTHER ACFT. FINDING THIS OUT AFTER I SHOULD HAVE BEEN TURNED ON TO FINAL APCH COURSE I ATTEMPTED COMMUNICATING WITH 2 RADIOS ON BOTH THE ASSIGNED FREQ AND OTHER PUBLISHED APCH FREQ AND TWR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I TRIED BROADCASTING FOR 'ANYONE RECEIVING,' WITHOUT SUCCESS. MEANWHILE I DSNDED OUT OF THE CLOUDS TO 2500 FT WHERE I WAS VFR. I FINALLY ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH COLDWELL GND CTLR (121.9) AND THROUGH A LAND LINE SHE VECTORED ME BACK TO THE FINAL APCH. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO CONTACT TEB TWR AND LAND. MY HAND HELD WAS NOT ATTACHED TO ITS ANTENNA AND HAVING ESTABLISHED CONTACT I DID NOT TRY TO USE IT TO SAY THE LEAST MY APCH WAS SLOPPY BUT I ELECTED TO MAINTAIN VFR RATHER THAN ASCEND BACK INTO THE CLOUDS. DURING THE SIT I TRIED 2 HEAD SETS (BUT FORGOT THE FREE MIKE). THERE WAS NO SIDE BAND INDICATING A STUCK MIKE SWITCH AND I WAS ABLE TO TALK NORMALLY WITH COLDWELL AND SUBSEQUENTLY TEB WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. POST LNDG RADIO CHK BY A SHOP FOUND NO ABNORMALITIES OTHER THAN A POOR MIKE ON MY 2ND HEAD SET. THE MAJOR PROB WAS THAT CONTACT WAS LOST JUST BEFORE TURNING ON TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE AND I THOUGHT I WAS BEING TAKE PAST THE FACILITY FOR SPACING. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO DSND TO VFR AND MAKE CONTACT. NEXT TIME MY HAND HELD WILL BE CONNECTED.

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.