Flight crew of B734 after experiencing VHF communications failure inadvertently squawked emergency hijack transponder code vice lost communication code.

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Attributes
ACN	588703
Time
Date	200307
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : teb.vor
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 22l
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 16500 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	588703
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 178 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	588702
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated controller : issued advisory flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During vectors for ILS runway 22L ewr, we lost #1 radio. Trying to establish communication with approach with #3 radio, we elected to squawk 7500, both thinking at the time we had the lost communication. After a period of time, we established communication with approach on the #2 radio. Approach asked if we were squawking 7500. I replied yes and that we had lost our #1 radio. Approach again asked if we were squawking 7500. We then realized we had put the wrong squawk in the transponder. We asked for a new squawk. Approach asked if everything was alright. I replied everything was ok, that we had put the wrong squawk in error. Approach issued a new squawk and cleared us for ILS runway 22L approach ewr. Supplemental information from acn 588702: possible contributing factors: near proximity of the highjack code 7500 and loss communication code of 7600. Maybe loss communication code should be changed to a distinct code such as '1111.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF B734 AFTER EXPERIENCING VHF COMS FAILURE INADVERTENTLY SQUAWKED EMER HIJACK XPONDER CODE VICE LOST COM CODE.

Narrative: DURING VECTORS FOR ILS RWY 22L EWR, WE LOST #1 RADIO. TRYING TO ESTABLISH COM WITH APCH WITH #3 RADIO, WE ELECTED TO SQUAWK 7500, BOTH THINKING AT THE TIME WE HAD THE LOST COM. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, WE ESTABLISHED COM WITH APCH ON THE #2 RADIO. APCH ASKED IF WE WERE SQUAWKING 7500. I REPLIED YES AND THAT WE HAD LOST OUR #1 RADIO. APCH AGAIN ASKED IF WE WERE SQUAWKING 7500. WE THEN REALIZED WE HAD PUT THE WRONG SQUAWK IN THE XPONDER. WE ASKED FOR A NEW SQUAWK. APCH ASKED IF EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT. I REPLIED EVERYTHING WAS OK, THAT WE HAD PUT THE WRONG SQUAWK IN ERROR. APCH ISSUED A NEW SQUAWK AND CLRED US FOR ILS RWY 22L APCH EWR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 588702: POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: NEAR PROX OF THE HIGHJACK CODE 7500 AND LOSS COM CODE OF 7600. MAYBE LOSS COM CODE SHOULD BE CHANGED TO A DISTINCT CODE SUCH AS '1111.

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.