Air carrier aircraft on the SUNST3 STAR into las experienced radio communications difficulties. The ...

Narrative:

[We were] descending into las via the SUNST3 arrival. [We] were given clearance to descend to 5;500 ft after sunst. After crossing sunst at 8;000 ft and 210 KTS [we] descended to 5;500 ft. Number 1 com was on 135.0. Number 2 com was on 121.5. Around kimme intersection noticed it was quiet for approach and terrain was rising ahead. Heard call on guard (121.5) to make immediate left turn heading 350 and identify. [We] complied with request and captain called approach on 135.0 as well. We never heard our call sign while at 5;500 ft. At that altitude you are behind a hill and below the 8;000 ft segment MEA. On a dark stormy night without visual conditions; the outcome could be catastrophic. It is my belief that we lost ATC contact due to low vectoring altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier aircraft on the SUNST3 STAR into LAS experienced radio communications difficulties. The reporter noted that contact was lost because of the ATC vectoring altitude.

Narrative: [We were] descending into LAS via the SUNST3 Arrival. [We] were given clearance to descend to 5;500 FT after SUNST. After crossing SUNST at 8;000 FT and 210 KTS [we] descended to 5;500 FT. Number 1 Com was on 135.0. Number 2 Com was on 121.5. Around KIMME Intersection noticed it was quiet for Approach and terrain was rising ahead. Heard call on Guard (121.5) to make immediate left turn heading 350 and IDENT. [We] complied with request and Captain called Approach on 135.0 as well. We never heard our call sign while at 5;500 FT. At that altitude you are behind a hill and below the 8;000 FT segment MEA. On a dark stormy night without visual conditions; the outcome could be catastrophic. It is my belief that we lost ATC contact due to low vectoring altitude.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1033222
Time
Date	201208
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	LAS.Airport
State Reference	NV
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR SUNST3
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 270 Flight Crew Total 26000 Flight Crew Type 12000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

Air carrier aircraft on the SUNST3 STAR into las experienced radio communications difficulties. The reporter noted that contact was lost because of the ATC vectoring altitude.