Aircraft equipment problem. ATC frequency congestion. Possible track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	122364
Time
Date	198909
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pvd
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 21000 msl bound upper : 21000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	122364
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Holding at pvd VOR at FL210 en route bos. Air carrier flight xx while beginning leg inbound VOR (azimuth) broke lock and we were unable to contact center due to heavy radio traffic. I dead reckoned to the VOR (DME was ok) and VOR operated ok about 1 mi from pvd VOR. Remained on holding pattern and flight was normal. We were inside holding airspace entire time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT EQUIPMENT PROBLEM. ATC FREQ CONGESTION. POSSIBLE TRACK DEVIATION.

Narrative: HOLDING AT PVD VOR AT FL210 ENRTE BOS. ACR FLT XX WHILE BEGINNING LEG INBND VOR (AZIMUTH) BROKE LOCK AND WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT CENTER DUE TO HEAVY RADIO TFC. I DEAD RECKONED TO THE VOR (DME WAS OK) AND VOR OPERATED OK ABOUT 1 MI FROM PVD VOR. REMAINED ON HOLDING PATTERN AND FLT WAS NORMAL. WE WERE INSIDE HOLDING AIRSPACE ENTIRE TIME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.