A small transport aircraft crew was out of contact with ZMA at 16;000 ft between frequency 127.22 an...

Attributes
ACN	880732
Time
Date	201003
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZMA.ARTCC
State Reference	FL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Light Transport Low Wing 2 Turboprop Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 4975 Flight Crew Type 1708
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

I was flying our company's aircraft to fll. We were on frequency 127.22 approximately 150 miles from fll VOR and direct to dekal intersection when we were advised via radio relay to call ZMA on 135.6; which we did. When center was contacted; we were advised that they had been trying to reach us on various frequencies for about 15 minutes. During that time we were both monitoring 127.22 and on comm 2 had fll ATIS tuned in so we were unable to monitor 121.5 during that short period of time. I have noticed a dead spot in frequency 135.6. In this area at times and I feel we were in a position that was too far for 127.22 and also too far for 135.6. I and my copilot had both radios turned up and definitely did not miss the switch in frequencies. It was day VMC and excellent visibility. If I had not established radio contact within another minute or so; I would have called 135.6 on my own.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A small transport aircraft crew was out of contact with ZMA at 16;000 FT between frequency 127.22 and 135.6 because of a frequency dead spot at their altitude.

Narrative: I was flying our company's aircraft to FLL. We were on frequency 127.22 approximately 150 miles from FLL VOR and direct to DEKAL intersection when we were advised via radio relay to call ZMA on 135.6; which we did. When Center was contacted; we were advised that they had been trying to reach us on various frequencies for about 15 minutes. During that time we were both monitoring 127.22 and on COMM 2 had FLL ATIS tuned in so we were unable to monitor 121.5 during that short period of time. I have noticed a dead spot in frequency 135.6. In this area at times and I feel we were in a position that was too far for 127.22 and also too far for 135.6. I and my copilot had both radios turned up and definitely did not miss the switch in frequencies. It was day VMC and excellent visibility. If I had not established radio contact within another minute or so; I would have called 135.6 on my own.

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.

A small transport aircraft crew was out of contact with ZMA at 16;000 ft between frequency 127.22 and 135.6 because of a frequency dead spot at their altitude.