After recent instrument proficiency check, GA files and flies IFR. En route, improper communication ...

Attributes
ACN	528489
Time
Date	200110
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sby.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3700 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nhk.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11.8 flight time total : 430.6 flight time type : 269.8
ASRS Report	528489
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On oct/sun/01, I departed ilg on an IFR flight plan to tgi. In sep/01, I had completed an instrument proficiency check since I had not flown on instruments or on an instrument flight plan for several years. I had trouble identing vors during the flight and periodically activated switches on the navigation/communication control console to monitor VOR identify transmission. Approaching sby, I was working with patuxent (nhk) approach on communication #1 and tacking sby on navigation #1. At about 12 NM from sby, I entered a scattered layer of clouds at 4000 ft, the altitude I had been assigned. The controller cleared me direct tgi and I turned to a new heading. At that point, I tried again to identify sby. In activating the switches on the control console, I inadvertently placed the output switch in the neutral position (neither speaker nor phone) but I did not realize the error. Several mins later, I realized the frequency was silent. I attempted to check in with approach, but received no response. I tried different radios and a different frequency without success. I assumed I had a radio failure and tried to connect a hand-held navigation/communication to an external antenna. While I was distracted by this effort, I lost approximately 300 ft of altitude. When I realized this, I corrected back to 4000 ft and recalled my training to 'fly the airplane.' I was in and out of IMC at this time. I continued to fly heading and altitude until I became clear of IMC. At this point, I attempted to raise approach on communication #1 and discovered the switch setting. Correcting the setting restored contact. I should have given priority to flying the assigned altitude and heading. Troubleshooting the communications problem was secondary. When I realized the correct priorities, I ultimately was able to solve the communications problem. Second, I should have used a more systematic approach to the communication problem. If I had focused on 'what was the last thing I did before losing communication?' I would have reexamined the console settings.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER RECENT INST PROFICIENCY CHK, GA FILES AND FLIES IFR. ENRTE, IMPROPER COM OP CAUSES PARTIAL NORDO SIT.

Narrative: ON OCT/SUN/01, I DEPARTED ILG ON AN IFR FLT PLAN TO TGI. IN SEP/01, I HAD COMPLETED AN INST PROFICIENCY CHK SINCE I HAD NOT FLOWN ON INSTS OR ON AN INST FLT PLAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I HAD TROUBLE IDENTING VORS DURING THE FLT AND PERIODICALLY ACTIVATED SWITCHES ON THE NAV/COM CTL CONSOLE TO MONITOR VOR IDENT XMISSION. APCHING SBY, I WAS WORKING WITH PATUXENT (NHK) APCH ON COM #1 AND TACKING SBY ON NAV #1. AT ABOUT 12 NM FROM SBY, I ENTERED A SCATTERED LAYER OF CLOUDS AT 4000 FT, THE ALT I HAD BEEN ASSIGNED. THE CTLR CLRED ME DIRECT TGI AND I TURNED TO A NEW HEADING. AT THAT POINT, I TRIED AGAIN TO IDENT SBY. IN ACTIVATING THE SWITCHES ON THE CTL CONSOLE, I INADVERTENTLY PLACED THE OUTPUT SWITCH IN THE NEUTRAL POS (NEITHER SPEAKER NOR PHONE) BUT I DID NOT REALIZE THE ERROR. SEVERAL MINS LATER, I REALIZED THE FREQ WAS SILENT. I ATTEMPTED TO CHK IN WITH APCH, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I TRIED DIFFERENT RADIOS AND A DIFFERENT FREQ WITHOUT SUCCESS. I ASSUMED I HAD A RADIO FAILURE AND TRIED TO CONNECT A HAND-HELD NAV/COM TO AN EXTERNAL ANTENNA. WHILE I WAS DISTRACTED BY THIS EFFORT, I LOST APPROX 300 FT OF ALT. WHEN I REALIZED THIS, I CORRECTED BACK TO 4000 FT AND RECALLED MY TRAINING TO 'FLY THE AIRPLANE.' I WAS IN AND OUT OF IMC AT THIS TIME. I CONTINUED TO FLY HEADING AND ALT UNTIL I BECAME CLR OF IMC. AT THIS POINT, I ATTEMPTED TO RAISE APCH ON COM #1 AND DISCOVERED THE SWITCH SETTING. CORRECTING THE SETTING RESTORED CONTACT. I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN PRIORITY TO FLYING THE ASSIGNED ALT AND HEADING. TROUBLESHOOTING THE COMS PROB WAS SECONDARY. WHEN I REALIZED THE CORRECT PRIORITIES, I ULTIMATELY WAS ABLE TO SOLVE THE COMS PROB. SECOND, I SHOULD HAVE USED A MORE SYSTEMATIC APCH TO THE COM PROB. IF I HAD FOCUSED ON 'WHAT WAS THE LAST THING I DID BEFORE LOSING COM?' I WOULD HAVE REEXAMINED THE CONSOLE SETTINGS.

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.

After recent instrument proficiency check, GA files and flies IFR. En route, improper communication operation causes partial NORDO situation.