Cpr flight crew experiences communication fail.

Attributes
ACN	177116
Time
Date	199104
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fgt
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 28000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	177116
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 115 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 115
ASRS Report	176777
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility

Narrative:

We were on our way to msp. Our last clearance was direct meinz and the meinz 5 arrival. Shortly thereafter, we were in light rain and our radio's squelch broke out with loud noise, which we assumed was pitot static. We tried to raise center, an FSS, and other aircraft, but to no avail. Since we were unable to communicate, we had to decided when to start down, based on our clearance last received. The meinz arrival calls to cross peppr at 10000'. Should we cross peppr at 10000' or wait until a fix to start the approach? We decided it was most appropriate to start a descent so as cross peppr at 10000', so this we did. We also reported out of FL280 in the blind and reported our altitude every 2000', just in case center could hear us. Upon reaching 14000', we began hearing center again, so we reported to the low altitude sector recorded on our chart. Their first comment was, 'who told you to leave your assigned altitude?' this was followed by, 'call us on the telephone,' immediately upon landing. Briefly, the center supervisor said we could have done it both ways under the circumstances, but we thought we were in deep trouble with the stern statement. Supplemental information from acn 176777: we were asked to phone center after landing. I did, and talked to the supervisor, explained it and he said the matter was closed and thanked us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR FLT CREW EXPERIENCES COM FAIL.

Narrative: WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO MSP. OUR LAST CLRNC WAS DIRECT MEINZ AND THE MEINZ 5 ARR. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE WERE IN LIGHT RAIN AND OUR RADIO'S SQUELCH BROKE OUT WITH LOUD NOISE, WHICH WE ASSUMED WAS PITOT STATIC. WE TRIED TO RAISE CENTER, AN FSS, AND OTHER ACFT, BUT TO NO AVAIL. SINCE WE WERE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE, WE HAD TO DECIDED WHEN TO START DOWN, BASED ON OUR CLRNC LAST RECEIVED. THE MEINZ ARR CALLS TO CROSS PEPPR AT 10000'. SHOULD WE CROSS PEPPR AT 10000' OR WAIT UNTIL A FIX TO START THE APCH? WE DECIDED IT WAS MOST APPROPRIATE TO START A DSNT SO AS CROSS PEPPR AT 10000', SO THIS WE DID. WE ALSO RPTED OUT OF FL280 IN THE BLIND AND RPTED OUR ALT EVERY 2000', JUST IN CASE CENTER COULD HEAR US. UPON REACHING 14000', WE BEGAN HEARING CENTER AGAIN, SO WE RPTED TO THE LOW ALT SECTOR RECORDED ON OUR CHART. THEIR FIRST COMMENT WAS, 'WHO TOLD YOU TO LEAVE YOUR ASSIGNED ALT?' THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY, 'CALL US ON THE TELEPHONE,' IMMEDIATELY UPON LNDG. BRIEFLY, THE CENTER SUPVR SAID WE COULD HAVE DONE IT BOTH WAYS UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WE THOUGHT WE WERE IN DEEP TROUBLE WITH THE STERN STATEMENT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 176777: WE WERE ASKED TO PHONE CENTER AFTER LNDG. I DID, AND TALKED TO THE SUPVR, EXPLAINED IT AND HE SAID THE MATTER WAS CLOSED AND THANKED US.

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.