Stuck microphone. - NASA ASRS

Attributes
ACN	294204
Time
Date	199501
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gve airport : dca
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 33000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : bhm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 6020 flight time type : 3200
ASRS Report	294204
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 13750
ASRS Report	294891
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During later stages of climb out or early cruise, I was given a frequency change and was advised that for the previous few mins we had had a stuck microphone. I was also advised to call mr. X of ZDC upon landing at tpa. Upon landing tpa, I called mr. X and was advised that our stuck microphone caused considerable difficulty for the center in providing ATC. He also advised that our cockpit conversation had been monitored and was not appreciated. The cockpit conversation at cruise altitude was meant to be private. I regret the incident and apologize for any grief or difficulty it caused the controllers, they do a very good job. During the subsequent leg, tpa to cmh, I realized the captain's microphone switch on the yoke was intermittent and sticking. I had no clue we had an open microphone, though I do remember the center asking our cruise mach number. When I told them they didn't acknowledge, I thought it was because he/she was busy or on the landline.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUCK MIKE.

Narrative: DURING LATER STAGES OF CLBOUT OR EARLY CRUISE, I WAS GIVEN A FREQ CHANGE AND WAS ADVISED THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS FEW MINS WE HAD HAD A STUCK MIKE. I WAS ALSO ADVISED TO CALL MR. X OF ZDC UPON LNDG AT TPA. UPON LNDG TPA, I CALLED MR. X AND WAS ADVISED THAT OUR STUCK MIKE CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY FOR THE CTR IN PROVIDING ATC. HE ALSO ADVISED THAT OUR COCKPIT CONVERSATION HAD BEEN MONITORED AND WAS NOT APPRECIATED. THE COCKPIT CONVERSATION AT CRUISE ALT WAS MEANT TO BE PVT. I REGRET THE INCIDENT AND APOLOGIZE FOR ANY GRIEF OR DIFFICULTY IT CAUSED THE CTLRS, THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT LEG, TPA TO CMH, I REALIZED THE CAPT'S MIKE SWITCH ON THE YOKE WAS INTERMITTENT AND STICKING. I HAD NO CLUE WE HAD AN OPEN MIKE, THOUGH I DO REMEMBER THE CTR ASKING OUR CRUISE MACH NUMBER. WHEN I TOLD THEM THEY DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE, I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE HE/SHE WAS BUSY OR ON THE LANDLINE.

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.