A flight crew lost communication and were able to re-establish communication on approach to msp.

Attributes
ACN	454700
Time
Date	199911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : msp.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	454700
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

We were being vectored for a visual approach to runway 30R at msp. As we were approaching jacko (OM), the captain (PNF) requested clearance for the visual approach. We received no response and returned to previous frequency. With no success we checked for a hot microphone, tried #2 transmitter, and checked for popped circuit breaker. We also attempted contact on both tower frequencys. Unable to establish communication with ATC we squawked 7600 and proceeded with lost communication procedure. Shortly thereafter we re-established contact with msp tower and were cleared for a visual approach to runway 30R and received landing clearance. We landed without further incident. Although the first officer was not using his hand microphone, it apparently slipped into a position which depressed the transmitter switch intermittently. After landing, the hot microphone was idented when first officer contacted ground control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FLC LOST COM AND WERE ABLE TO RE-ESTABLISH COM ON APCH TO MSP.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 30R AT MSP. AS WE WERE APCHING JACKO (OM), THE CAPT (PNF) REQUESTED CLRNC FOR THE VISUAL APCH. WE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE AND RETURNED TO PREVIOUS FREQ. WITH NO SUCCESS WE CHKED FOR A HOT MIKE, TRIED #2 XMITTER, AND CHKED FOR POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKER. WE ALSO ATTEMPTED CONTACT ON BOTH TWR FREQS. UNABLE TO ESTABLISH COM WITH ATC WE SQUAWKED 7600 AND PROCEEDED WITH LOST COM PROC. SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE RE-ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH MSP TWR AND WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 30R AND RECEIVED LNDG CLRNC. WE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE FO WAS NOT USING HIS HAND MIKE, IT APPARENTLY SLIPPED INTO A POS WHICH DEPRESSED THE XMITTER SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER LNDG, THE HOT MIKE WAS IDENTED WHEN FO CONTACTED GND CTL.

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.