Frequency change premature wrong. Temporary loss of radio contact communication frequency.

Attributes
ACN	303730
Time
Date	199505
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cho
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 12200 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	303730
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We had leveled at 4000 ft, heading 090 degrees as assigned. I was talking with ZDC, 135.40. We called cho insight, and told to stand by for visual. I reached up to select 125.4, cho tower, in the collins proline radio preselect. As I was dialing the frequency, we got some light turbulence, just enough to move the select lever on the radio. The frequency changed to the one I was trying to select. I immediately reselected, to go back to center frequency. The next voice we heard was a female. As we crossed the ILS approach path, I asked if center wanted us to join the final. She said we should be on 135.40. It was then I noticed we were on 134.40. I changed to the proper frequency. The controller said he 'almost had a situation down there that need not have happened.' he vectored us around, and back to the airport, and turned us over to tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FREQ CHANGE PREMATURE WRONG. TEMPORARY LOSS OF RADIO CONTACT COM FREQ.

Narrative: WE HAD LEVELED AT 4000 FT, HDG 090 DEGS AS ASSIGNED. I WAS TALKING WITH ZDC, 135.40. WE CALLED CHO INSIGHT, AND TOLD TO STAND BY FOR VISUAL. I REACHED UP TO SELECT 125.4, CHO TWR, IN THE COLLINS PROLINE RADIO PRESELECT. AS I WAS DIALING THE FREQ, WE GOT SOME LIGHT TURB, JUST ENOUGH TO MOVE THE SELECT LEVER ON THE RADIO. THE FREQ CHANGED TO THE ONE I WAS TRYING TO SELECT. I IMMEDIATELY RESELECTED, TO GO BACK TO CTR FREQ. THE NEXT VOICE WE HEARD WAS A FEMALE. AS WE CROSSED THE ILS APCH PATH, I ASKED IF CTR WANTED US TO JOIN THE FINAL. SHE SAID WE SHOULD BE ON 135.40. IT WAS THEN I NOTICED WE WERE ON 134.40. I CHANGED TO THE PROPER FREQ. THE CTLR SAID HE 'ALMOST HAD A SIT DOWN THERE THAT NEED NOT HAVE HAPPENED.' HE VECTORED US AROUND, AND BACK TO THE ARPT, AND TURNED US OVER TO TWR.

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.