Pilot inadvertently leaves frequency while in control of ZDC.

Attributes
ACN	470890
Time
Date	200004
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : esl.vortac
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 2121 flight time type : 83
ASRS Report	470890
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Anticipating approach to iad, I began selecting expected frequencys in the 2 communication radios. When I heard iad tower controller, I realized I had removed ZDC frequency while still under its control. Luckily, I remembered the correct frequency, put it back in and called ZDC, 'level at 6000 ft.' center's immediate reply was 'roger, contact dulles approach, 'leading me to believe he'd been trying to contact me with that change while I'd been off his frequency. How it happened: I had used communication #1 radio throughout the 2 hour trip from ohio, except for ZDC which was weak on communication #1. So now ZDC was in communication #2, when I started to dial in expected frequencys for the approach and landing, forgetting that the active frequency was no longer on communication #1. How to do better: before ever selecting in a new frequency, verify which is the active frequency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT INADVERTENTLY LEAVES FREQ WHILE IN CTL OF ZDC.

Narrative: ANTICIPATING APCH TO IAD, I BEGAN SELECTING EXPECTED FREQS IN THE 2 COM RADIOS. WHEN I HEARD IAD TWR CTLR, I REALIZED I HAD REMOVED ZDC FREQ WHILE STILL UNDER ITS CTL. LUCKILY, I REMEMBERED THE CORRECT FREQ, PUT IT BACK IN AND CALLED ZDC, 'LEVEL AT 6000 FT.' CTR'S IMMEDIATE REPLY WAS 'ROGER, CONTACT DULLES APCH, 'LEADING ME TO BELIEVE HE'D BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT ME WITH THAT CHANGE WHILE I'D BEEN OFF HIS FREQ. HOW IT HAPPENED: I HAD USED COM #1 RADIO THROUGHOUT THE 2 HR TRIP FROM OHIO, EXCEPT FOR ZDC WHICH WAS WEAK ON COM #1. SO NOW ZDC WAS IN COM #2, WHEN I STARTED TO DIAL IN EXPECTED FREQS FOR THE APCH AND LNDG, FORGETTING THAT THE ACTIVE FREQ WAS NO LONGER ON COM #1. HOW TO DO BETTER: BEFORE EVER SELECTING IN A NEW FREQ, VERIFY WHICH IS THE ACTIVE FREQ.

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.