A90 controller described radio interference event; pilot traced problem to onboard cell phone.

Attributes
ACN	782594
Time
Date	200804
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : psm.airport
State Reference	ME
Altitude	msl single value : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 3 controller radar : 14 controller time certified in position1 : 9
ASRS Report	782594
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Aircraft X checked on the frequency. His initial radio call was very difficult to understand. There was a loud buzz in the backgnd and the voice volume was soft in comparison. I advised the pilot of his radio problem. When it was time to contact the next controller; the response was loud and clear. The pilot advised that his cell phone was the cause of the interference.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A90 CTLR DESCRIBED RADIO INTERFERENCE EVENT; PLT TRACED PROBLEM TO ONBOARD CELL PHONE.

Narrative: ACFT X CHKED ON THE FREQ. HIS INITIAL RADIO CALL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. THERE WAS A LOUD BUZZ IN THE BACKGND AND THE VOICE VOLUME WAS SOFT IN COMPARISON. I ADVISED THE PLT OF HIS RADIO PROB. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO CONTACT THE NEXT CTLR; THE RESPONSE WAS LOUD AND CLR. THE PLT ADVISED THAT HIS CELL PHONE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE INTERFERENCE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.