Narrative:

I was the PF on my first IFR cross country (IFR flight plan) since receiving my instrument rating 2 weeks previous. I was being vectored to intercept the ILS runway 33 at bdl. In the C172 audio panel is a series of switches. During being vectored I was told to expect ILS runway 33 at bdl. At some point during checking all the NAVAID idents on the audio panel, I accidentally turned off the master audio for our headsets, and was not aware of this. At this point I was on a radar vector for the localizer, about 300 degree heading. It was unusual that I wasn't hearing anything on the radios, but that's happened before while out flying. The needle for the localizer began to come alive and swing in. My passenger had asked if I was cleared for the approach. I thought that I was and instinctively turned to intercept ILS runway 33. Not hearing any ATC calls, my passenger suggested to call ATC. I did -- no answer. The problem with the radio switches was found, and I called ATC. (There was only 1 push-to-talk transmit button in the airplane.) ATC queried me why I turned for the approach. Being very embarrassed, I told ATC I had a radio problem, but was now rectified. I apologized for the misunderstanding, and I was cleared for the approach ILS runway 33 bdl. The rest of the flight went uneventfully. Supplemental information from acn 420070: this audio panel confign is conducive to these types of errors in that the pilot tends to rely on the master in automatic as opposed to each switch (receiver) being selected on. With the master off, all incoming communication is shut off.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NEWLY INST RATED PVT PLT OF A C172 TURNED INBOUND ON THE LOC BEFORE BEING CLRED BY APCH CTL DUE TO TEMPORARY LOSS OF COM WITH THE TWR CAUSED BY THE PLT ACCIDENTALLY TURNING OFF THE MASTER AUDIO SWITCH.

Narrative: I WAS THE PF ON MY FIRST IFR XCOUNTRY (IFR FLT PLAN) SINCE RECEIVING MY INST RATING 2 WKS PREVIOUS. I WAS BEING VECTORED TO INTERCEPT THE ILS RWY 33 AT BDL. IN THE C172 AUDIO PANEL IS A SERIES OF SWITCHES. DURING BEING VECTORED I WAS TOLD TO EXPECT ILS RWY 33 AT BDL. AT SOME POINT DURING CHKING ALL THE NAVAID IDENTS ON THE AUDIO PANEL, I ACCIDENTALLY TURNED OFF THE MASTER AUDIO FOR OUR HEADSETS, AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS. AT THIS POINT I WAS ON A RADAR VECTOR FOR THE LOC, ABOUT 300 DEG HDG. IT WAS UNUSUAL THAT I WASN'T HEARING ANYTHING ON THE RADIOS, BUT THAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE WHILE OUT FLYING. THE NEEDLE FOR THE LOC BEGAN TO COME ALIVE AND SWING IN. MY PAX HAD ASKED IF I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS AND INSTINCTIVELY TURNED TO INTERCEPT ILS RWY 33. NOT HEARING ANY ATC CALLS, MY PAX SUGGESTED TO CALL ATC. I DID -- NO ANSWER. THE PROB WITH THE RADIO SWITCHES WAS FOUND, AND I CALLED ATC. (THERE WAS ONLY 1 PUSH-TO-TALK XMIT BUTTON IN THE AIRPLANE.) ATC QUERIED ME WHY I TURNED FOR THE APCH. BEING VERY EMBARRASSED, I TOLD ATC I HAD A RADIO PROB, BUT WAS NOW RECTIFIED. I APOLOGIZED FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING, AND I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH ILS RWY 33 BDL. THE REST OF THE FLT WENT UNEVENTFULLY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 420070: THIS AUDIO PANEL CONFIGN IS CONDUCIVE TO THESE TYPES OF ERRORS IN THAT THE PLT TENDS TO RELY ON THE MASTER IN AUTO AS OPPOSED TO EACH SWITCH (RECEIVER) BEING SELECTED ON. WITH THE MASTER OFF, ALL INCOMING COM IS SHUT OFF.

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.