An air carrier medium large transport became 'NORDO' while in the positive control area.

Attributes
ACN	249638
Time
Date	199308
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mci
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
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
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	249638
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	249246
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

ATC couldn't communication with my flight to give us lower altitude and therefore, another aircraft was given heading off course. This happened when first officer left flight deck and I was called by flight attendants. At this time, we were descending from 330 to 290 for traffic. ATC attempted to contact us to descend us further to 240. I didn't hear this since I was off frequency with my panel set up in the interphone transmit position. If I had left my panel setup so I could still hear ATC while I was transmitting in the interphone position, the situation could have been avoided. As it turns out, a widebody transport had to be vectored. Supplemental information from acn 249246: we received a 'SELCAL' requesting us to make contact on a given frequency. My 'pre- descent toilet checks' will be more 'pre' and less 'descent.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG BECAME 'NORDO' WHILE IN THE PCA.

Narrative: ATC COULDN'T COM WITH MY FLT TO GIVE US LOWER ALT AND THEREFORE, ANOTHER ACFT WAS GIVEN HDG OFF COURSE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN FO LEFT FLT DECK AND I WAS CALLED BY FLT ATTENDANTS. AT THIS TIME, WE WERE DSNDING FROM 330 TO 290 FOR TFC. ATC ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT US TO DSND US FURTHER TO 240. I DIDN'T HEAR THIS SINCE I WAS OFF FREQ WITH MY PANEL SET UP IN THE INTERPHONE XMIT POS. IF I HAD LEFT MY PANEL SETUP SO I COULD STILL HEAR ATC WHILE I WAS XMITTING IN THE INTERPHONE POS, THE SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. AS IT TURNS OUT, A WDB HAD TO BE VECTORED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 249246: WE RECEIVED A 'SELCAL' REQUESTING US TO MAKE CONTACT ON A GIVEN FREQ. MY 'PRE- DSCNT TOILET CHKS' WILL BE MORE 'PRE' AND LESS 'DSCNT.'

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.