B727 crew was out of communication with ATC for short time after leaving frequency inadvertently.

Attributes
ACN	458402
Time
Date	199912
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mia.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 12
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	458402
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	458192
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

En route to miami #1 communication radio failed. Company procedure is to use #2 communication for ATC communication. While level at 4000 ft on a 270 degree heading for vectors to ILS runway 12 at mia, so changed ATC approach frequency to company operations frequency. Normal procedure is for so to use #2 communication. He simply forgot about us using #2 communication for ATC. We were out of contact with ATC for about 3 mins. Talked to approach control supervisor and he said there were no conflicts. We should have put a piece of tape over inoperative radio for memory jogger.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW WAS OUT OF COM WITH ATC FOR SHORT TIME AFTER LEAVING FREQ INADVERTENTLY.

Narrative: ENRTE TO MIAMI #1 COM RADIO FAILED. COMPANY PROC IS TO USE #2 COM FOR ATC COM. WHILE LEVEL AT 4000 FT ON A 270 DEG HDG FOR VECTORS TO ILS RWY 12 AT MIA, SO CHANGED ATC APCH FREQ TO COMPANY OPS FREQ. NORMAL PROC IS FOR SO TO USE #2 COM. HE SIMPLY FORGOT ABOUT US USING #2 COM FOR ATC. WE WERE OUT OF CONTACT WITH ATC FOR ABOUT 3 MINS. TALKED TO APCH CTL SUPVR AND HE SAID THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS. WE SHOULD HAVE PUT A PIECE OF TAPE OVER INOP RADIO FOR MEMORY JOGGER.

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.