B737 flight crew has a stuck microphone in proximity of ord and they engage in vulgar conversation for nearly 10 mins before they realize the reality of the situation. They later call center controller to apologize.

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Attributes
ACN	363700
Time
Date	199703
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	363700
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9000
ASRS Report	363693
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

While en route from msp to ord, first officer's microphone became inadvertently stuck (in transmit mode). Apparently cockpit conversation between crew was unknowingly being broadcast over ZAU frequency. Conversation contained both normal and possibly a bit of offensive language. Entire event lasted approximately 5-10 mins. Steps were taken to immediately replace microphone. ATC for ZAU was also called by crew to apologize for any inconvenience caused. Supplemental information from acn 363693: first officer and I were having a conversation where offensive language was used. After about 5-10 mins of no ATC communications, the first officer inquired, and fixed the stuck microphone. Controller seemed upset, and we were handed off to approach control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLC HAS A STUCK MIKE IN PROX OF ORD AND THEY ENGAGE IN VULGAR CONVERSATION FOR NEARLY 10 MINS BEFORE THEY REALIZE THE REALITY OF THE SIT. THEY LATER CALL CTR CTLR TO APOLOGIZE.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM MSP TO ORD, FO'S MIKE BECAME INADVERTENTLY STUCK (IN XMIT MODE). APPARENTLY COCKPIT CONVERSATION BTWN CREW WAS UNKNOWINGLY BEING BROADCAST OVER ZAU FREQ. CONVERSATION CONTAINED BOTH NORMAL AND POSSIBLY A BIT OF OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE. ENTIRE EVENT LASTED APPROX 5-10 MINS. STEPS WERE TAKEN TO IMMEDIATELY REPLACE MIKE. ATC FOR ZAU WAS ALSO CALLED BY CREW TO APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 363693: FO AND I WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION WHERE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE WAS USED. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MINS OF NO ATC COMS, THE FO INQUIRED, AND FIXED THE STUCK MIKE. CTLR SEEMED UPSET, AND WE WERE HANDED OFF TO APCH CTL.

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.