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A MD80 jumpseat microphone selected to VHF1 became active during descent for the approach causing a lost communication on both VHF1 and VHF2 which were tuned to the same frequency.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 861229 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200911 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Final Approach Landing Initial Approach |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Microphone |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types |
Narrative:
During vectors with approach control we heard on guard frequency (VHF 2) for us to contact approach control on the frequency that we already had in VHF 1. So we tried without success. We then tried the same frequency on VHF 2 with no success. We tried some other frequencies on both radios with no success when we suddenly heard guard once again on VHF 2 telling us a different frequency. This one worked initially; then we lost communication for about 30 seconds and then got it back. The controller was great and vectored us quickly to the ILS runway 5L and gave us clearance to land and to look for a green light from tower if we should lose communication again. Approach; landing and taxi were normal with no communication problems. Troubleshooting at the gate we found the jumpseat microphone (which had been previously replaced) was sitting in the cup holder behind the first officer's seat and behind our jackets in such a way that during our descent the microphone button had been depressed and the jumpseat communication panel had VHF 1 selected. Our communication problem turned our to be a stuck microphone! (The reason that VHF 2 didn't work some of the time was the sometimes if had the same frequency as VHF 1 which had the stuck microphone.)
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A MD80 jumpseat microphone selected to VHF1 became active during descent for the approach causing a lost communication on both VHF1 and VHF2 which were tuned to the same frequency.
Narrative: During vectors with Approach Control we heard on guard frequency (VHF 2) for us to contact Approach Control on the frequency that we already had in VHF 1. So we tried without success. We then tried the same frequency on VHF 2 with no success. We tried some other frequencies on both radios with no success when we suddenly heard guard once again on VHF 2 telling us a different frequency. This one worked initially; then we lost communication for about 30 seconds and then got it back. The Controller was great and vectored us quickly to the ILS Runway 5L and gave us clearance to land and to look for a green light from Tower if we should lose communication again. Approach; landing and taxi were normal with no communication problems. Troubleshooting at the gate we found the jumpseat microphone (which had been previously replaced) was sitting in the cup holder behind the First Officer's seat and behind our jackets in such a way that during our descent the microphone button had been depressed and the jumpseat communication panel had VHF 1 selected. Our communication problem turned our to be a stuck microphone! (The reason that VHF 2 didn't work some of the time was the sometimes if had the same frequency as VHF 1 which had the stuck microphone.)
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.