Two pilots monkeying around on atx cargo flight contrive to give themselves a communications failure...

Attributes
ACN	144373
Time
Date	199004
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bis
State Reference	ND
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bis
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1625 flight time type : 45
ASRS Report	144373
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While coming back from the freight-run, the pilot sitting next to me pulled the ADF circuit breaker for training purposes. Neither of us knew however, that the audio panel is hooked up to the same breaker. Needless to say that we effectively killed our communications while IMC and being vectored for the ILS/localizer. After hearing nothing from ATC for about 3 mins, we discovered the mistake. ATC was 'glad hearing from us' and vectored us again west/O further incident. Know your airplane. If you pull a breaker know what it does.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TWO PLTS MONKEYING AROUND ON ATX CARGO FLT CONTRIVE TO GIVE THEMSELVES A COMS FAILURE.

Narrative: WHILE COMING BACK FROM THE FREIGHT-RUN, THE PLT SITTING NEXT TO ME PULLED THE ADF CB FOR TRNING PURPOSES. NEITHER OF US KNEW HOWEVER, THAT THE AUDIO PANEL IS HOOKED UP TO THE SAME BREAKER. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT WE EFFECTIVELY KILLED OUR COMS WHILE IMC AND BEING VECTORED FOR THE ILS/LOC. AFTER HEARING NOTHING FROM ATC FOR ABOUT 3 MINS, WE DISCOVERED THE MISTAKE. ATC WAS 'GLAD HEARING FROM US' AND VECTORED US AGAIN W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. KNOW YOUR AIRPLANE. IF YOU PULL A BREAKER KNOW WHAT IT DOES.

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.