Temporary loss of communication occurred when the captain's PA handset dropped on the center radio c...

Attributes
ACN	541127
Time
Date	200203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : bearz
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl single value : 25000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	541127
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	541130
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : flc 3
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Knox arrival. During our descent to FL250 for a landing at chicago, the captain made a before landing announcement to the cabin using the center console PA handset. During the stowing of the PA handset, it sipped out of the captain's hand and landed on the center console. A few mins later, the first officer asked the captain to request a lower altitude from ATC. The captain tried to contact ATC, however, there was no response. The first officer tried her microphone and the relief pilot tried his microphone with no response from ATC. In the process of setting up our #2 VHF comrdo for use ATC contacted us on guard 121.5 and issued us a new frequency. Selecting the new frequency in the #2 radio continued to bring silence. We then knew that the dropping of the PA handset on the center console deselected his microphone system from being used with either radio and both the first officer's were able to communicate with ATC for the remainder of the flight. After arriving at ord, the captain's VHF communication system was entered in the aircraft logbook for repair. For future flts, I will make sure the PA handset and its cord are in better control. Supplemental information from acn 541129: whenever captain selected anything on his microphone selector panel it blocked out everything. Captain deselected his communication and the first officer made the remainder of the communications without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TEMPORARY LOSS OF COM OCCURRED WHEN THE CAPT'S PA HANDSET DROPPED ON THE CTR RADIO CONSOLE, DISABLING SELECTION CAPABILITY OF BOTH VHF'S FOR ALL OF THE CREW 100 MI S OF ORD, IL.

Narrative: KNOX ARR. DURING OUR DSCNT TO FL250 FOR A LNDG AT CHICAGO, THE CAPT MADE A BEFORE LNDG ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE CABIN USING THE CTR CONSOLE PA HANDSET. DURING THE STOWING OF THE PA HANDSET, IT SIPPED OUT OF THE CAPT'S HAND AND LANDED ON THE CTR CONSOLE. A FEW MINS LATER, THE FO ASKED THE CAPT TO REQUEST A LOWER ALT FROM ATC. THE CAPT TRIED TO CONTACT ATC, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE FO TRIED HER MIKE AND THE RELIEF PLT TRIED HIS MIKE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM ATC. IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP OUR #2 VHF COMRDO FOR USE ATC CONTACTED US ON GUARD 121.5 AND ISSUED US A NEW FREQ. SELECTING THE NEW FREQ IN THE #2 RADIO CONTINUED TO BRING SILENCE. WE THEN KNEW THAT THE DROPPING OF THE PA HANDSET ON THE CTR CONSOLE DESELECTED HIS MIKE SYS FROM BEING USED WITH EITHER RADIO AND BOTH THE FO'S WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ATC FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. AFTER ARRIVING AT ORD, THE CAPT'S VHF COM SYS WAS ENTERED IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK FOR REPAIR. FOR FUTURE FLTS, I WILL MAKE SURE THE PA HANDSET AND ITS CORD ARE IN BETTER CTL. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 541129: WHENEVER CAPT SELECTED ANYTHING ON HIS MIKE SELECTOR PANEL IT BLOCKED OUT EVERYTHING. CAPT DESELECTED HIS COM AND THE FO MADE THE REMAINDER OF THE COMS WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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.

Temporary loss of communication occurred when the captain's PA handset dropped on the center radio console, disabling selection capability of both VHF's for all of the crew 100 mi south of ord, il.