Failed communication radio panel on MD11 results in NORDO conditions for 5 mins.

Attributes
ACN	696670
Time
Date	200605
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zmp.artcc
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl single value : 31000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-11
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 110
ASRS Report	696670
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 101 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	696669
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : fail warning indicator other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While cruising at FL310 through ZMP's airspace; we encountered the following problem: communication radio panel #3 indicated 'panel fail' in its window. Shortly after noticing this; we received a frequency change from one sector of ZMP to another. When we changed the frequency in communication radio panel #1 (VHF #1) the frequency dialed in disappeared and reverted to the previous frequency in both the primary and standby windows. The phenomenon duplicated itself in communication radio panel #2 when we attempted to use it. We followed the procedure in the aom bulleting addressing this anomaly. And after spending nearly 5 mins searching for the correct circuit breaker to pull (incidentally; this circuit breaker is mislabeled in the bulletin); we pulled the one labeled 'VHF communication #3.' this immediately unlocked communication radio panels #1 and #2 and allowed us to use them normally. We contacted ZMP; advised them we were working through this problem and proceeded to check both communication radio panels for proper function. All said; we were out of radio contact for approximately 5 mins. During this time we could neither transmit nor receive on any of our radio panels. After resolution; we encountered no other problems throughout the remainder of the flight. We debriefed maintenance on the ground after the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FAILED COM RADIO PANEL ON MD11 RESULTS IN NORDO CONDITIONS FOR 5 MINS.

Narrative: WHILE CRUISING AT FL310 THROUGH ZMP'S AIRSPACE; WE ENCOUNTERED THE FOLLOWING PROB: COM RADIO PANEL #3 INDICATED 'PANEL FAIL' IN ITS WINDOW. SHORTLY AFTER NOTICING THIS; WE RECEIVED A FREQ CHANGE FROM ONE SECTOR OF ZMP TO ANOTHER. WHEN WE CHANGED THE FREQ IN COM RADIO PANEL #1 (VHF #1) THE FREQ DIALED IN DISAPPEARED AND REVERTED TO THE PREVIOUS FREQ IN BOTH THE PRIMARY AND STANDBY WINDOWS. THE PHENOMENON DUPLICATED ITSELF IN COM RADIO PANEL #2 WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO USE IT. WE FOLLOWED THE PROC IN THE AOM BULLETING ADDRESSING THIS ANOMALY. AND AFTER SPENDING NEARLY 5 MINS SEARCHING FOR THE CORRECT CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PULL (INCIDENTALLY; THIS CIRCUIT BREAKER IS MISLABELED IN THE BULLETIN); WE PULLED THE ONE LABELED 'VHF COM #3.' THIS IMMEDIATELY UNLOCKED COM RADIO PANELS #1 AND #2 AND ALLOWED US TO USE THEM NORMALLY. WE CONTACTED ZMP; ADVISED THEM WE WERE WORKING THROUGH THIS PROB AND PROCEEDED TO CHK BOTH COM RADIO PANELS FOR PROPER FUNCTION. ALL SAID; WE WERE OUT OF RADIO CONTACT FOR APPROX 5 MINS. DURING THIS TIME WE COULD NEITHER XMIT NOR RECEIVE ON ANY OF OUR RADIO PANELS. AFTER RESOLUTION; WE ENCOUNTERED NO OTHER PROBS THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. WE DEBRIEFED MAINT ON THE GND AFTER THE FLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.