Flight crew of a lear 36 lost communication during climb with center due to a radio equipment problem and were able to confirm altitude assignment through contact with an FAA FSS facility.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	335934
Time
Date	199605
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cdb
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa artcc : zan
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Learjet 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	other other : other pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 373 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	335934
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After departure from cold bay, ak, we were given FL290 and expect higher after radar contact. After zan confirmed they had radar contact we were given FL330. 10 mins later zan called us, but did not hear our replies. We attempted to contact zan on 118.5 and 132.9 at least 20 times over the next 10-20 mins. We also attempted a number of HF frequencys with no luck. After assuming a lost communication situation we decided we should climb to our filed altitude of FL370. We were given the initial clearance of FL290, expect higher after radar contact. We were in radar contact at last communication and had filed for FL370. We calculated that we would be below minimum fuel if we maintained FL330 which also influenced our decision to climb to FL370. We have tried to figure out how to avoid this situation from reoccurring, but think we followed the proper procedures and hope that we can find an active frequency a little quicker next time to avoid an uncertainties. We eventually contacted honolulu radio on 113.30 and after honolulu spoke with ZOA we were cleared to maintain FL370.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A LEAR 36 LOST COM DURING CLB WITH CTR DUE TO A RADIO EQUIP PROB AND WERE ABLE TO CONFIRM ALT ASSIGNMENT THROUGH CONTACT WITH AN FAA FSS FACILITY.

Narrative: AFTER DEP FROM COLD BAY, AK, WE WERE GIVEN FL290 AND EXPECT HIGHER AFTER RADAR CONTACT. AFTER ZAN CONFIRMED THEY HAD RADAR CONTACT WE WERE GIVEN FL330. 10 MINS LATER ZAN CALLED US, BUT DID NOT HEAR OUR REPLIES. WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ZAN ON 118.5 AND 132.9 AT LEAST 20 TIMES OVER THE NEXT 10-20 MINS. WE ALSO ATTEMPTED A NUMBER OF HF FREQS WITH NO LUCK. AFTER ASSUMING A LOST COM SIT WE DECIDED WE SHOULD CLB TO OUR FILED ALT OF FL370. WE WERE GIVEN THE INITIAL CLRNC OF FL290, EXPECT HIGHER AFTER RADAR CONTACT. WE WERE IN RADAR CONTACT AT LAST COM AND HAD FILED FOR FL370. WE CALCULATED THAT WE WOULD BE BELOW MINIMUM FUEL IF WE MAINTAINED FL330 WHICH ALSO INFLUENCED OUR DECISION TO CLB TO FL370. WE HAVE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO AVOID THIS SIT FROM REOCCURRING, BUT THINK WE FOLLOWED THE PROPER PROCS AND HOPE THAT WE CAN FIND AN ACTIVE FREQ A LITTLE QUICKER NEXT TIME TO AVOID AN UNCERTAINTIES. WE EVENTUALLY CONTACTED HONOLULU RADIO ON 113.30 AND AFTER HONOLULU SPOKE WITH ZOA WE WERE CLRED TO MAINTAIN FL370.

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.