Pilot of a BE20 has brief loss of communication apparently due to a stuck microphone. ATC was trying...

Attributes
ACN	410550
Time
Date	199808
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Super King Air 200 HDC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 330
ASRS Report	410550
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While descending on right downwind to runway 32 at pit, there was approximately a 1 1/2 - 2 min loss of communication. We realized something may be wrong due to our increasing distance from the airport. The problem came across as a classic stuck microphone as our radios 'tested properly.' we looked for another frequency to try to contact ATC on but tried our backup radio first on the original frequency. On our #2 radio we heard approach looking for us. This made us think it was our radio. However, before or since the flight above we have never had any problems. It was either a stuck microphone or some sort of coverage gap with ATC. We suspect it was the former but are reporting it to ASRS in case the same thing has been reported in the area described.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A BE20 HAS BRIEF LOSS OF COM APPARENTLY DUE TO A STUCK MIKE. ATC WAS TRYING TO CONTACT THEM.

Narrative: WHILE DSNDING ON R DOWNWIND TO RWY 32 AT PIT, THERE WAS APPROX A 1 1/2 - 2 MIN LOSS OF COM. WE REALIZED SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG DUE TO OUR INCREASING DISTANCE FROM THE ARPT. THE PROB CAME ACROSS AS A CLASSIC STUCK MIKE AS OUR RADIOS 'TESTED PROPERLY.' WE LOOKED FOR ANOTHER FREQ TO TRY TO CONTACT ATC ON BUT TRIED OUR BACKUP RADIO FIRST ON THE ORIGINAL FREQ. ON OUR #2 RADIO WE HEARD APCH LOOKING FOR US. THIS MADE US THINK IT WAS OUR RADIO. HOWEVER, BEFORE OR SINCE THE FLT ABOVE WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBS. IT WAS EITHER A STUCK MIKE OR SOME SORT OF COVERAGE GAP WITH ATC. WE SUSPECT IT WAS THE FORMER BUT ARE RPTING IT TO ASRS IN CASE THE SAME THING HAS BEEN RPTED IN THE AREA DESCRIBED.

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.

Pilot of a BE20 has brief loss of communication apparently due to a stuck microphone. ATC was trying to contact them.