A B737-800 crew experiences communication failure.

Attributes
ACN	480559
Time
Date	200007
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc.artcc
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tower : sfo.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 17500 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	480559
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On climb out from san jose, costa rica, I was advised to contact central america center. I then noticed #1 communication had failed on both heads. I then used #2 communication for position report and after 5 mins, #1 communication started working and #2 communication had fail/fail on both heads and remained inoperative the entire flight. On descent clearance from ZDC to cross holly at FL240, we began descent and after level flight noticed #1 and #2 navigation both had failed. We tried using #3 communication and could only receive, but not transmit. We squawked 7600 and continued on the newark arrival. We descended to cross holly at 11000 ft and then started for 8000 ft when we established communication with new york approach on 128.55, on #3. We continued on new york approach until contacting ewr tower. While we were talking to ewr tower, they advised we were transmitting to tower and approach at the same time. Note: this aircraft was a B737-800 just delivered from the factory.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-800 CREW EXPERIENCES COM FAILURE.

Narrative: ON CLBOUT FROM SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, I WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT CENTRAL AMERICA CTR. I THEN NOTICED #1 COM HAD FAILED ON BOTH HEADS. I THEN USED #2 COM FOR POS RPT AND AFTER 5 MINS, #1 COM STARTED WORKING AND #2 COM HAD FAIL/FAIL ON BOTH HEADS AND REMAINED INOP THE ENTIRE FLT. ON DSCNT CLRNC FROM ZDC TO CROSS HOLLY AT FL240, WE BEGAN DSCNT AND AFTER LEVEL FLT NOTICED #1 AND #2 NAV BOTH HAD FAILED. WE TRIED USING #3 COM AND COULD ONLY RECEIVE, BUT NOT XMIT. WE SQUAWKED 7600 AND CONTINUED ON THE NEWARK ARR. WE DSNDED TO CROSS HOLLY AT 11000 FT AND THEN STARTED FOR 8000 FT WHEN WE ESTABLISHED COM WITH NEW YORK APCH ON 128.55, ON #3. WE CONTINUED ON NEW YORK APCH UNTIL CONTACTING EWR TWR. WHILE WE WERE TALKING TO EWR TWR, THEY ADVISED WE WERE XMITTING TO TWR AND APCH AT THE SAME TIME. NOTE: THIS ACFT WAS A B737-800 JUST DELIVERED FROM THE FACTORY.

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.