Small aircraft pilot inadvertently knocks off his avionics off-on switch and has lost communication ...

Attributes
ACN	168449
Time
Date	199101
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : csn
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mlb
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 213 flight time total : 16673 flight time type : 129
ASRS Report	168449
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a long night flight only 1 hour from my destination, as I adjusted my seat and body position, I inadvertently knocked off the avionics switch. This shut down all communications and navigation. I realized the problem very quickly (2 mins or so) and reactivated the avionics switch. As murphy's law would have it, center called me 4 times during my brief absence from the airwaves. The controller proceeded to remind me to listen up. I guess I can't blame him! Especially since it was very early and both him and I were tired. In the future, I will be more careful when adjusting seat and body position in an small aircraft. Unfortunately, since I am over 6' tall, I must be extremely careful when moving around in tight cockpits. Also, be alert for important switches that can be easily moved whenever you change body positions or move around significantly in the cockpit. Be especially careful for circuit breaker's, autoplt and avionics switches.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT INADVERTENTLY KNOCKS OFF HIS AVIONICS OFF-ON SWITCH AND HAS LOST COM SITUATION WITH ZDC.

Narrative: ON A LONG NIGHT FLT ONLY 1 HR FROM MY DEST, AS I ADJUSTED MY SEAT AND BODY POS, I INADVERTENTLY KNOCKED OFF THE AVIONICS SWITCH. THIS SHUT DOWN ALL COMS AND NAV. I REALIZED THE PROB VERY QUICKLY (2 MINS OR SO) AND REACTIVATED THE AVIONICS SWITCH. AS MURPHY'S LAW WOULD HAVE IT, CENTER CALLED ME 4 TIMES DURING MY BRIEF ABSENCE FROM THE AIRWAVES. THE CTLR PROCEEDED TO REMIND ME TO LISTEN UP. I GUESS I CAN'T BLAME HIM! ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS VERY EARLY AND BOTH HIM AND I WERE TIRED. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE MORE CAREFUL WHEN ADJUSTING SEAT AND BODY POS IN AN SMA. UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE I AM OVER 6' TALL, I MUST BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN MOVING AROUND IN TIGHT COCKPITS. ALSO, BE ALERT FOR IMPORTANT SWITCHES THAT CAN BE EASILY MOVED WHENEVER YOU CHANGE BODY POSITIONS OR MOVE AROUND SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE COCKPIT. BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL FOR CB'S, AUTOPLT AND AVIONICS SWITCHES.

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.

Small aircraft pilot inadvertently knocks off his avionics off-on switch and has lost communication situation with ZDC.