Loss of communication frequency.

Attributes
ACN	276466
Time
Date	199407
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dlh
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dlh tower : san
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2900 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	276466
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Received an IFR clearance from dlh to suw via radar vectors. Was cleared to 230 degrees, 3000 ft. After takeoff, subsequently turned to 180 degrees for vectors to final for the NDB 31 approach into suw. While heading 180 degrees and level at 3000 ft approximately 3 mins passed where I heard no radio xmissions, I attempted to call approach control. When I keyed the aircraft microphone and attempted to speak I had no side tone. Upon investigating I found my headset cord was not fully seated. I fully seated my headset cord and immediately called duluth approach control. Approach had been attempting to call me to notify me of other traffic. The rest of the flight was without incident. This problem should have been avoided and would have if I had properly connected my headset to the microphone cord. This is something that I shall include in my preflight and all walk around inspections in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF COM FREQ.

Narrative: RECEIVED AN IFR CLRNC FROM DLH TO SUW VIA RADAR VECTORS. WAS CLRED TO 230 DEGS, 3000 FT. AFTER TKOF, SUBSEQUENTLY TURNED TO 180 DEGS FOR VECTORS TO FINAL FOR THE NDB 31 APCH INTO SUW. WHILE HDG 180 DEGS AND LEVEL AT 3000 FT APPROX 3 MINS PASSED WHERE I HEARD NO RADIO XMISSIONS, I ATTEMPTED TO CALL APCH CTL. WHEN I KEYED THE ACFT MIKE AND ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK I HAD NO SIDE TONE. UPON INVESTIGATING I FOUND MY HEADSET CORD WAS NOT FULLY SEATED. I FULLY SEATED MY HEADSET CORD AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED DULUTH APCH CTL. APCH HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO CALL ME TO NOTIFY ME OF OTHER TFC. THE REST OF THE FLT WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS PROB SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AND WOULD HAVE IF I HAD PROPERLY CONNECTED MY HEADSET TO THE MIKE CORD. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I SHALL INCLUDE IN MY PREFLT AND ALL WALK AROUND INSPECTIONS IN THE FUTURE.

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.