Narrative:

We were in class D airspace with an operating control tower. While doing take-offs and landings in the traffic pattern; we experienced erratic radio reception. There was periodically total silence (even with squelch opened); and instances of static and squealing. At one brief point when we did get reception; we heard the tower say the words 'stuck mic'; and quickly drew the conclusion they were referring to us. We tried unplugging the hand mic; unplugging headsets; turning off individual radios; and jiggling wires and the ptt switches. Nothing seemed to clear the stuck mic. We began squawking 7600 to indicate our situation. While this was going on we flew an extended downwind leg. We got a brief period of reception and heard the tower clear us to land. We attempted to radio our intention of landing to a full stop; but were not sure if we were heard. After landing; we shut off radios; and then turned just one back on. We got another brief period of reception and acknowledged instructions to taxi up foxtrot; but hold short at echo. On reaching echo; we were not able to get any further radio reception. After trying unsuccessfully to get a radio to work; we finally cautiously taxied across the taxiway we were told to hold short of; and across an active runway to our parking. After shutdown; we called the tower and found that they could hear everything going on in the cockpit. So they knew of our intentions and actions. We also learned that they had been trying to give us light gun signals both on final approach; and while holding short for further taxiing. In the commotion of trying to get the radios to work; we never thought to look for light gun signals. I do not have any suggestions of how to have prevented the stuck mic problem; and do not know what was the cause. However; the main learning was that after experiencing a radio failure; I should always remember to look to the tower for light gun signals if I am in the vicinity of an operating control tower.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Cessna in traffic pattern had radio problems; they forgot to look for light gun.

Narrative: We were in Class D airspace with an operating control tower. While doing take-offs and landings in the traffic pattern; we experienced erratic radio reception. There was periodically total silence (even with squelch opened); and instances of static and squealing. At one brief point when we did get reception; we heard the tower say the words 'stuck mic'; and quickly drew the conclusion they were referring to us. We tried unplugging the hand mic; unplugging headsets; turning off individual radios; and jiggling wires and the PTT switches. Nothing seemed to clear the stuck mic. We began squawking 7600 to indicate our situation. While this was going on we flew an extended downwind leg. We got a brief period of reception and heard the tower clear us to land. We attempted to radio our intention of landing to a full stop; but were not sure if we were heard. After landing; we shut off radios; and then turned just one back on. We got another brief period of reception and acknowledged instructions to taxi up Foxtrot; but hold short at Echo. On reaching Echo; we were not able to get any further radio reception. After trying unsuccessfully to get a radio to work; we finally cautiously taxied across the taxiway we were told to hold short of; and across an active runway to our parking. After shutdown; we called the Tower and found that they could hear everything going on in the cockpit. So they knew of our intentions and actions. We also learned that they had been trying to give us light gun signals both on final approach; and while holding short for further taxiing. In the commotion of trying to get the radios to work; we never thought to look for light gun signals. I do not have any suggestions of how to have prevented the stuck mic problem; and do not know what was the cause. However; the main learning was that after experiencing a radio failure; I should always remember to look to the tower for light gun signals if I am in the vicinity of an operating control tower.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.