Corp pilot has stuck microphone switch, ties up TRACON frequency.

Attributes
ACN	193892
Time
Date	199111
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tnv
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iah
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : iah
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 4800 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	193892
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Routine transmission with hou TRACON. I replied to their transmission. Approximately 2 mins later, I became aware of a continuous carrier wave tone in my head set. I began searching through all communication/navigation equipment on board for the source of the tone. My microphone switch did not appear to be 'depressed.' my communication radio does not have a transmit indicator light. Approximately 6-8 mins after I first noticed the tone, I found the stuck microphone switch. I reestablished communications with hou TRACON after physically disconnecting the microphone switch and using another microphone switch. Faulty microphone switch has been replaced. I am aware and concerned about the problems brought about by my 'closing down' a very busy TRACON frequency with a faulty microphone switch.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP PLT HAS STUCK MICROPHONE SWITCH, TIES UP TRACON FREQ.

Narrative: ROUTINE XMISSION WITH HOU TRACON. I REPLIED TO THEIR XMISSION. APPROX 2 MINS LATER, I BECAME AWARE OF A CONTINUOUS CARRIER WAVE TONE IN MY HEAD SET. I BEGAN SEARCHING THROUGH ALL COM/NAV EQUIP ON BOARD FOR THE SOURCE OF THE TONE. MY MICROPHONE SWITCH DID NOT APPEAR TO BE 'DEPRESSED.' MY COM RADIO DOES NOT HAVE A XMIT INDICATOR LIGHT. APPROX 6-8 MINS AFTER I FIRST NOTICED THE TONE, I FOUND THE STUCK MICROPHONE SWITCH. I REESTABLISHED COMS WITH HOU TRACON AFTER PHYSICALLY DISCONNECTING THE MICROPHONE SWITCH AND USING ANOTHER MICROPHONE SWITCH. FAULTY MICROPHONE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED. I AM AWARE AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS BROUGHT ABOUT BY MY 'CLOSING DOWN' A VERY BUSY TRACON FREQ WITH A FAULTY MICROPHONE SWITCH.

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.