Narrative:

Acting captain; flying pilot; during company line-check; observed the non-flying pilot experiencing difficulties checking in with cleveland center (ZOB) after receiving a hand-off from toledo departure control. After the air traffic controller called the aircraft twice; the controller called a third time and stated that if the aircraft could hear the controller to contact them on an alternate frequency. I noticed the non-flying pilot was not reacting/responding to the radio call and I could not directly communicate with the non-flying pilot over the crew intercom system; so I changed the radio frequency and checked in with cleveland center (ZOB).the non-flying pilot observed the radio frequency change; confused with the change; and returned the radio to the original frequency. Flying and non-flying pilots quickly identified that the 'crew intercom' activation switch had been deactivated; and regained crew communication.flying pilot became alarmed when his radio began receiving the ktol ATIS; and became more actively involved with understanding the status of the radio settings. During this time; the non-flying pilot was checking in with cleveland center.it took additional time for the crew to identify that the 'split mode' switch was activated; causing the pilot and co-pilot to be transmitting/receiving independently on two different communication radios (tuned to two different frequencies). If the flying pilot selected communication-1; the non-flying pilot radio automatically changed to communication-2. When the non-flying pilot reselected communication-1; the flying pilot automatically/involuntarily changed back to communication-2.there was a short period of time where the each pilot was alternating to communication-1 (cleveland center; while the other pilot was on a different radio/frequency) and subsequently communicating with the cleveland center as that controller was actively trying to understand why two distinctively different voices (pilot & copilot) was responding as the same aircraft.after the 'split mode' switched was resolved; and both pilots were concurrently on com-1; the flying-pilot relinquished all radio communications back to the non-flying pilot.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air taxi Captain reported that the flight crew had difficulty in managing the radio panel.

Narrative: Acting captain; flying pilot; during company line-check; observed the non-flying pilot experiencing difficulties checking in with Cleveland Center (ZOB) after receiving a hand-off from Toledo Departure Control. After the air traffic controller called the aircraft twice; the controller called a third time and stated that if the aircraft could hear the controller to contact them on an alternate frequency. I noticed the non-flying pilot was not reacting/responding to the radio call and I could not directly communicate with the non-flying pilot over the crew intercom system; so I changed the radio frequency and checked in with Cleveland Center (ZOB).The non-flying pilot observed the radio frequency change; confused with the change; and returned the radio to the original frequency. Flying and Non-Flying Pilots quickly identified that the 'Crew Intercom' activation switch had been deactivated; and regained crew communication.Flying pilot became alarmed when his radio began receiving the KTOL ATIS; and became more actively involved with understanding the status of the radio settings. During this time; the non-flying pilot was checking in with Cleveland Center.It took additional time for the crew to identify that the 'Split Mode' switch was activated; causing the pilot and co-pilot to be transmitting/receiving independently on two different communication radios (tuned to two different frequencies). If the flying pilot selected COM-1; the non-flying pilot radio automatically changed to COM-2. When the non-flying pilot reselected COM-1; the flying pilot automatically/involuntarily changed back to COM-2.There was a short period of time where the each pilot was alternating to COM-1 (Cleveland Center; while the other pilot was on a different radio/frequency) and subsequently communicating with the Cleveland Center as that controller was actively trying to understand why two distinctively different voices (pilot & copilot) was responding as the same aircraft.After the 'Split Mode' switched was resolved; and both pilots were concurrently on Com-1; the flying-pilot relinquished all radio communications back to the non-flying pilot.

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.