<< >> NASA ASRS Report 425174, January 1999

Pilot of BE76 experiences stuck microphone and causes traffic diversions by ATC while being controled by ZMA.

Attributes
ACN	425174
Time
Date	199901
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zma
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Duchess 76
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 13
ASRS Report	425174
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was flying to pittstown, bahamas in a BE76. I had filed an IFR flight plan to nassau with intent to cancel and proceed to georgetown VFR. En route and unknown to me, my microphone stuck after my last transmission and remained so for approximately 5 mins. I contacted ATC again. They informed me of the problem and had me change frequencys. After contacting mia on the next frequency, my microphone stuck briefly again and I was informed not to use it. After examining the push-to-talk switch, I realized a piece of paper was jamming the bottom from releasing completely and I solved the problem. When the next controller was done with me, I was instructed to call mia approach when I landed because many planes had to be diverted and the controllers became overloaded. I did so and was told I could have been violated if a close call had occurred because of me taking up that frequency. I apologized and told the controller I would get the switch looked at.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF BE76 EXPERIENCES STUCK MIKE AND CAUSES TFC DIVERSIONS BY ATC WHILE BEING CTLED BY ZMA.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING TO PITTSTOWN, BAHAMAS IN A BE76. I HAD FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN TO NASSAU WITH INTENT TO CANCEL AND PROCEED TO GEORGETOWN VFR. ENRTE AND UNKNOWN TO ME, MY MIKE STUCK AFTER MY LAST XMISSION AND REMAINED SO FOR APPROX 5 MINS. I CONTACTED ATC AGAIN. THEY INFORMED ME OF THE PROB AND HAD ME CHANGE FREQS. AFTER CONTACTING MIA ON THE NEXT FREQ, MY MIKE STUCK BRIEFLY AGAIN AND I WAS INFORMED NOT TO USE IT. AFTER EXAMINING THE PUSH-TO-TALK SWITCH, I REALIZED A PIECE OF PAPER WAS JAMMING THE BOTTOM FROM RELEASING COMPLETELY AND I SOLVED THE PROB. WHEN THE NEXT CTLR WAS DONE WITH ME, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL MIA APCH WHEN I LANDED BECAUSE MANY PLANES HAD TO BE DIVERTED AND THE CTLRS BECAME OVERLOADED. I DID SO AND WAS TOLD I COULD HAVE BEEN VIOLATED IF A CLOSE CALL HAD OCCURRED BECAUSE OF ME TAKING UP THAT FREQ. I APOLOGIZED AND TOLD THE CTLR I WOULD GET THE SWITCH LOOKED AT.

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.