MD80 crew had VHF radio failure arriving at atl. Crew accidentally squawked the hijack code instead of the communication failure code.

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Attributes
ACN	540434
Time
Date	200203
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : atl.vortac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 9000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	540434
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance controller : issued alert flight crew : executed go around none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

NORDO. Flight was proceeding as planned. Checked in with approach control flying rmg 2. As we got abnormally close to atl, I directed the first officer to request descent. After numerous calls, we attempted alternate means, ie, previous frequency (tower, ground, guard, VHF #1 and #2 and from captain and first officer position, both headset and hand microphone. As we passed overhead atl, I directed first officer to look up appropriate code for NORDO, which he put in the transponder. Captain stated his intentions were to establish a downwind for final to landing runway and in absence of a red light, land. Very intermittent communications with approach control were established and we were cleared to land and told to return to original squawk. Difficult radio problem persisted to engine shutdown. On taxi in, captain was asked to call TRACON. I did so and learned we were squawking 7500 not 7600. The first officer and I discussed the need for proper transponder codes in the current environment. Possible contributing factors: fatigue. 3 legs, 3 different aircraft, final landing at XA30. Also, possible passenger electronics pager/cell phone.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW HAD VHF RADIO FAILURE ARRIVING AT ATL. CREW ACCIDENTALLY SQUAWKED THE HIJACK CODE INSTEAD OF THE COM FAILURE CODE.

Narrative: NORDO. FLT WAS PROCEEDING AS PLANNED. CHKED IN WITH APCH CTL FLYING RMG 2. AS WE GOT ABNORMALLY CLOSE TO ATL, I DIRECTED THE FO TO REQUEST DSCNT. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS, WE ATTEMPTED ALTERNATE MEANS, IE, PREVIOUS FREQ (TWR, GND, GUARD, VHF #1 AND #2 AND FROM CAPT AND FO POS, BOTH HEADSET AND HAND MIKE. AS WE PASSED OVERHEAD ATL, I DIRECTED FO TO LOOK UP APPROPRIATE CODE FOR NORDO, WHICH HE PUT IN THE XPONDER. CAPT STATED HIS INTENTIONS WERE TO ESTABLISH A DOWNWIND FOR FINAL TO LNDG RWY AND IN ABSENCE OF A RED LIGHT, LAND. VERY INTERMITTENT COMS WITH APCH CTL WERE ESTABLISHED AND WE WERE CLRED TO LAND AND TOLD TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL SQUAWK. DIFFICULT RADIO PROB PERSISTED TO ENG SHUTDOWN. ON TAXI IN, CAPT WAS ASKED TO CALL TRACON. I DID SO AND LEARNED WE WERE SQUAWKING 7500 NOT 7600. THE FO AND I DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR PROPER XPONDER CODES IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT. POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: FATIGUE. 3 LEGS, 3 DIFFERENT ACFT, FINAL LNDG AT XA30. ALSO, POSSIBLE PAX ELECTRONICS PAGER/CELL PHONE.

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.