Small aircraft has stuck microphone, thereby disrupting communication with approach controller.

Attributes
ACN	140032
Time
Date	199003
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rav airport : rdg
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v170
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 590
ASRS Report	140032
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was using a push-to-talk button with portable headsets, talking to approach control at rdg. About 3-4 mins following a transmission, I noticed that the button was stuck against the rim around the button. I moved the button so that it popped out. Immediately rdg approach control inquired, 'xx, how do you read?' I told them, 'loud and clear,' and explained that my transmission button had been stuck and apologized. They said it had been stuck for the 'last 10 mi,' and they'd had of lot of trouble with it. When it was stuck I was talking to a passenger who could not be heard on the radio. I am afraid this might have caused serious problems for rdg approach and other aircraft. As to prevention, it requires a design change as the button is not easy to see. In future I will make certain it is nt stuck at the end of a transmission. This has never happened with this button before for me.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS STUCK MICROPHONE, THEREBY DISRUPTING COM WITH APCH CTLR.

Narrative: I WAS USING A PUSH-TO-TALK BUTTON WITH PORTABLE HEADSETS, TALKING TO APCH CTL AT RDG. ABOUT 3-4 MINS FOLLOWING A XMISSION, I NOTICED THAT THE BUTTON WAS STUCK AGAINST THE RIM AROUND THE BUTTON. I MOVED THE BUTTON SO THAT IT POPPED OUT. IMMEDIATELY RDG APCH CTL INQUIRED, 'XX, HOW DO YOU READ?' I TOLD THEM, 'LOUD AND CLEAR,' AND EXPLAINED THAT MY XMISSION BUTTON HAD BEEN STUCK AND APOLOGIZED. THEY SAID IT HAD BEEN STUCK FOR THE 'LAST 10 MI,' AND THEY'D HAD OF LOT OF TROUBLE WITH IT. WHEN IT WAS STUCK I WAS TALKING TO A PAX WHO COULD NOT BE HEARD ON THE RADIO. I AM AFRAID THIS MIGHT HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS PROBS FOR RDG APCH AND OTHER ACFT. AS TO PREVENTION, IT REQUIRES A DESIGN CHANGE AS THE BUTTON IS NOT EASY TO SEE. IN FUTURE I WILL MAKE CERTAIN IT IS NT STUCK AT THE END OF A XMISSION. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED WITH THIS BUTTON BEFORE FOR ME.

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