Narrative:

After successful completion of the flight phase of reporter's BFR, the CFI in right seat of C170 suggested an introduction to instrument approachs, since reporter is considering instrument training. After a briefing, review of the approach plate, and explanation of the procedures on the ground, we took off just before sunset. Conditions were cavu. Runway 35 was in use with a light northwest wind. We were to fly the ILS runway 17 approach, with a missed approach, then a second approach, then enter the pattern for a normal landing on runway 35. Reporter was wearing a hood, CFI was safety pilot, and coaching reporter (PIC) through the turns and timing. Intercom between headsets was in use. At some point after OM, CFI turned down radio volume because radio traffic between tower and other aircraft was conflicting with his instructions. Reporter removed hood at decision ht and noted flashing red light signal from tower cabin attendant and immediately initiated missed approach. My first thought was that tower had lost their radio. Then I looked at my own navigation communication and was shocked to see volume turned down. CFI admitted he'd forgotten to turn it back up. I called the tower immediately, apologized for the loss of communication, and set up for the second approach. There was no departing traffic (head- on conflict) at the time of the incident, but at least one other aircraft in the pattern. This is the second time in my short flying career that a flight instructor has turned down radio volume without my knowledge so he can talk without 'interference' from ATC -- an extremely unsafe practice.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PLT ON A BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW IS SURPRISED TO RECEIVE A FLASHING RED LIGHT FROM THE TWR WHILE ON APCH. AS HE WENT AROUND HE NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUCTOR HAD TURNED THE RADIO VOLUME CTL DOWN SO THAT THE RADIO WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH HIS INSTRUCTIONS ON FINAL APCH. THE RPTR COMPLAINS THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT AN INSTRUCTOR HAS DONE THIS TO HIM.

Narrative: AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE FLT PHASE OF RPTR'S BFR, THE CFI IN R SEAT OF C170 SUGGESTED AN INTRODUCTION TO INST APCHS, SINCE RPTR IS CONSIDERING INST TRAINING. AFTER A BRIEFING, REVIEW OF THE APCH PLATE, AND EXPLANATION OF THE PROCS ON THE GND, WE TOOK OFF JUST BEFORE SUNSET. CONDITIONS WERE CAVU. RWY 35 WAS IN USE WITH A LIGHT NW WIND. WE WERE TO FLY THE ILS RWY 17 APCH, WITH A MISSED APCH, THEN A SECOND APCH, THEN ENTER THE PATTERN FOR A NORMAL LNDG ON RWY 35. RPTR WAS WEARING A HOOD, CFI WAS SAFETY PLT, AND COACHING RPTR (PIC) THROUGH THE TURNS AND TIMING. INTERCOM BTWN HEADSETS WAS IN USE. AT SOME POINT AFTER OM, CFI TURNED DOWN RADIO VOLUME BECAUSE RADIO TFC BTWN TWR AND OTHER ACFT WAS CONFLICTING WITH HIS INSTRUCTIONS. RPTR REMOVED HOOD AT DECISION HT AND NOTED FLASHING RED LIGHT SIGNAL FROM TWR CAB AND IMMEDIATELY INITIATED MISSED APCH. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT TWR HAD LOST THEIR RADIO. THEN I LOOKED AT MY OWN NAV COM AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE VOLUME TURNED DOWN. CFI ADMITTED HE'D FORGOTTEN TO TURN IT BACK UP. I CALLED THE TWR IMMEDIATELY, APOLOGIZED FOR THE LOSS OF COM, AND SET UP FOR THE SECOND APCH. THERE WAS NO DEPARTING TFC (HEAD- ON CONFLICT) AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, BUT AT LEAST ONE OTHER ACFT IN THE PATTERN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN MY SHORT FLYING CAREER THAT A FLT INSTRUCTOR HAS TURNED DOWN RADIO VOLUME WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE SO HE CAN TALK WITHOUT 'INTERFERENCE' FROM ATC -- AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE PRACTICE.

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.