B737-300 flight crew has lost communication during arrival into ric.

Attributes
ACN	601339
Time
Date	200312
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ric.vortac
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 24000 msl bound upper : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Fog Turbulence Ice Snow
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc tower : sjc.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : nottingham
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	601339
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While in cruise flight, radio communication was lost with ZDC shortly after clearance was given to descend at pilot's discretion to cross ric VOR at FL240. I noticed that it was very quiet on the radio and pushed the squelch button on communication #1 and heard nothing. I tried communication #2 and that didn't work either. We checked all combinations of 'tx' and 'rx' on both captain's and first officer's audio select panel, and neither of us could 'tx' at all. I finally was able to 'tx' on communication #2 and 'rx' on communication #1 on 2 different frequencys. ZDC handed us off to the next sector and couldn't 'tx or rx' on that frequency either. Went back to the previous frequency and couldn't speak with anyone. I unplugged both my headset and hand microphone to see if that was causing a suspect stuck microphone on our aircraft. That didn't work either. I selected 7600 on the transponder and began blind 'tx' on 121.50 to try to raise anyone. Finally was able to 'tx' on 121.50 and instructions were relayed through that radio. Unsure whether center/approach/tower could hear me. I would hit the identify to acknowledge every time instructions were given. Landed without any further problems and had maintenance meet the aircraft to troubleshoot radio problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FLT CREW HAS LOST COM DURING ARR INTO RIC.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT, RADIO COM WAS LOST WITH ZDC SHORTLY AFTER CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO DSND AT PLT'S DISCRETION TO CROSS RIC VOR AT FL240. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS VERY QUIET ON THE RADIO AND PUSHED THE SQUELCH BUTTON ON COM #1 AND HEARD NOTHING. I TRIED COM #2 AND THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. WE CHKED ALL COMBINATIONS OF 'TX' AND 'RX' ON BOTH CAPT'S AND FO'S AUDIO SELECT PANEL, AND NEITHER OF US COULD 'TX' AT ALL. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO 'TX' ON COM #2 AND 'RX' ON COM #1 ON 2 DIFFERENT FREQS. ZDC HANDED US OFF TO THE NEXT SECTOR AND COULDN'T 'TX OR RX' ON THAT FREQ EITHER. WENT BACK TO THE PREVIOUS FREQ AND COULDN'T SPEAK WITH ANYONE. I UNPLUGGED BOTH MY HEADSET AND HAND MIKE TO SEE IF THAT WAS CAUSING A SUSPECT STUCK MIKE ON OUR ACFT. THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I SELECTED 7600 ON THE XPONDER AND BEGAN BLIND 'TX' ON 121.50 TO TRY TO RAISE ANYONE. FINALLY WAS ABLE TO 'TX' ON 121.50 AND INSTRUCTIONS WERE RELAYED THROUGH THAT RADIO. UNSURE WHETHER CTR/APCH/TWR COULD HEAR ME. I WOULD HIT THE IDENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERY TIME INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN. LANDED WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBS AND HAD MAINT MEET THE ACFT TO TROUBLESHOOT RADIO PROBS.

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.