Loss of communication frequency due to stuck microphone.

Attributes
ACN	250774
Time
Date	199309
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lex
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 23000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	250774
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	250773
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Climbing out of lexington, climbing to FL230, captain flying, we noticed on TCASII aircraft above us possibly at altitude FL230. No information had been given by ATC, and we decided that frequency had a stuck microphone on it. After 3 attempts on that frequency (124.22 ZID) and no response, returned to previous frequency to request new frequency. Meanwhile, captain had slowed ascent and we picked up a visual on air carrier large transport jet above us. We talked to a new frequency 128.22 (ZID) and passed well clear of large transport jet. No TCASII warning or alert ever sounded, so separation was kept, and no further action required. ZID asked us a couple questions afterward. Flight continued uneventful to destination. Supplemental information from acn 250773: at this time I became aware that someone was talking in backgnd on center frequency. Asked the first officer to try to establish communication. After 3 attempts and still hearing what I thought was a pilot conversation, he switched back to previous frequency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF COM FREQ DUE TO STUCK MIKE.

Narrative: CLBING OUT OF LEXINGTON, CLBING TO FL230, CAPT FLYING, WE NOTICED ON TCASII ACFT ABOVE US POSSIBLY AT ALT FL230. NO INFO HAD BEEN GIVEN BY ATC, AND WE DECIDED THAT FREQ HAD A STUCK MIKE ON IT. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS ON THAT FREQ (124.22 ZID) AND NO RESPONSE, RETURNED TO PREVIOUS FREQ TO REQUEST NEW FREQ. MEANWHILE, CAPT HAD SLOWED ASCENT AND WE PICKED UP A VISUAL ON ACR LGT JET ABOVE US. WE TALKED TO A NEW FREQ 128.22 (ZID) AND PASSED WELL CLR OF LGT JET. NO TCASII WARNING OR ALERT EVER SOUNDED, SO SEPARATION WAS KEPT, AND NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED. ZID ASKED US A COUPLE QUESTIONS AFTERWARD. FLT CONTINUED UNEVENTFUL TO DEST. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 250773: AT THIS TIME I BECAME AWARE THAT SOMEONE WAS TALKING IN BACKGND ON CTR FREQ. ASKED THE FO TO TRY TO ESTABLISH COM. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS AND STILL HEARING WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A PLT CONVERSATION, HE SWITCHED BACK TO PREVIOUS FREQ.

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.