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A DHC8 flight crew briefly lost communications with ATC on VHF-1 which they attributed to an early descent. They monitored the guard frequency and picked up a new frequency assignment. There was confusion about a heading and altitude assignment.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1229101 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201412 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | EWR.Airport |
| State Reference | NJ |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Descent |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | VHF |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types |
Narrative:
During arrival into ewr with new york center they descended us to 7;000 feet. After a few minutes at 7;000 feet the frequency went silent; so on comm 2; I monitored 121.5. A few seconds later we heard ATC calling us telling us to switch to new york approach 120.15. I switched over and checked on and heard 'aircraft X turn left heading 100 and descend to 5;000 feet.' I read back the instructions and didn't hear anything else. About a minute later we hear 'aircraft X are you here?' I respond yes and with last instructions given. He said those were not our instructions; but to continue with the 100 heading and 5;000 feet. He then questioned what happened and I explained that the frequency went silent and we monitored 121.5 and heard the switch on 120.15. I explained that we checked on; were given instructions; read back the instructions; and no further calls from ATC were heard. The flight continued with no further incidents and a safe landing was made. If we weren't descended so early into ewr; or had switched earlier I believe this event could have been avoided.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A DHC8 flight crew briefly lost communications with ATC on VHF-1 which they attributed to an early descent. They monitored the guard frequency and picked up a new frequency assignment. There was confusion about a heading and altitude assignment.
Narrative: During arrival into EWR with New York Center they descended us to 7;000 feet. After a few minutes at 7;000 feet the frequency went silent; so on COMM 2; I monitored 121.5. A few seconds later we heard ATC calling us telling us to switch to New York approach 120.15. I switched over and checked on and heard 'Aircraft X turn left heading 100 and descend to 5;000 feet.' I read back the instructions and didn't hear anything else. About a minute later we hear 'Aircraft X are you here?' I respond yes and with last instructions given. He said those were not our instructions; but to continue with the 100 heading and 5;000 feet. He then questioned what happened and I explained that the frequency went silent and we monitored 121.5 and heard the switch on 120.15. I explained that we checked on; were given instructions; read back the instructions; and no further calls from ATC were heard. The flight continued with no further incidents and a safe landing was made. If we weren't descended so early into EWR; or had switched earlier I believe this event could have been avoided.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.