Flight crew of an medium large transport air carrier aircraft failed to make further heading changes due to a stuck microphone. Loss of radio contact.

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Attributes
ACN	244504
Time
Date	199306
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 7800 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	244504
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

I was not using a head set microphone because a previous controller said I was difficult to understand. I was using hand-held microphone when approach gave us a 320 degree heading at 4000 ft as a base leg vector to runway 23. Unknown to the captain and I, my microphone button stuck after acknowledging the 320 degree heading. It took several mins for us to recognize and correct the problem. By the time we reestablished contact with approach the approach controller was obviously distressed, attempting to sort out possible conflicts. I don't really know how this could have been avoided. Possibly the use of better quality microphones and head sets would alleviate any future problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG ACR ACFT FAILED TO MAKE FURTHER HDG CHANGES DUE TO A STUCK MIKE. LOSS OF RADIO CONTACT.

Narrative: I WAS NOT USING A HEAD SET MIKE BECAUSE A PREVIOUS CTLR SAID I WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. I WAS USING HAND-HELD MIKE WHEN APCH GAVE US A 320 DEG HDG AT 4000 FT AS A BASE LEG VECTOR TO RWY 23. UNKNOWN TO THE CAPT AND I, MY MIKE BUTTON STUCK AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING THE 320 DEG HDG. IT TOOK SEVERAL MINS FOR US TO RECOGNIZE AND CORRECT THE PROB. BY THE TIME WE REESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH APCH THE APCH CTLR WAS OBVIOUSLY DISTRESSED, ATTEMPTING TO SORT OUT POSSIBLE CONFLICTS. I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. POSSIBLY THE USE OF BETTER QUALITY MICROPHONES AND HEAD SETS WOULD ALLEVIATE ANY FUTURE PROBS.

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.