Air carrier flight crew finds themselves out of contact with ATC en route.

Attributes
ACN	703772
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdv.artcc
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 33000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport
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 : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 27000 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	703772
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During cruise portion of flight; I had to leave the flight deck for a visituation to the lavatory. First officer notified lead flight attendant of captain's departure from flight deck and forgot to switch back to ATC. We had a jumpseater onboard so it was not necessary for a flight attendant to come into the flight deck to guard the door per company policy. I returned to flight deck to find that he was out of contact with ATC. We retained contact with ATC and was advised to call on ground. ATC was understanding; however; not happy. Many factors contributed to this situation. 1) company in bankruptcy; 2) stress; 3) major pay cut; 4) first officer losing home due to pay cuts and 'min' layover.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLT CREW FINDS THEMSELVES OUT OF CONTACT WITH ATC ENRTE.

Narrative: DURING CRUISE PORTION OF FLT; I HAD TO LEAVE THE FLT DECK FOR A VISITUATION TO THE LAVATORY. FO NOTIFIED LEAD FLT ATTENDANT OF CAPT'S DEP FROM FLT DECK AND FORGOT TO SWITCH BACK TO ATC. WE HAD A JUMPSEATER ONBOARD SO IT WAS NOT NECESSARY FOR A FLT ATTENDANT TO COME INTO THE FLT DECK TO GUARD THE DOOR PER COMPANY POLICY. I RETURNED TO FLT DECK TO FIND THAT HE WAS OUT OF CONTACT WITH ATC. WE RETAINED CONTACT WITH ATC AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL ON GND. ATC WAS UNDERSTANDING; HOWEVER; NOT HAPPY. MANY FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SITUATION. 1) COMPANY IN BANKRUPTCY; 2) STRESS; 3) MAJOR PAY CUT; 4) FO LOSING HOME DUE TO PAY CUTS AND 'MIN' LAYOVER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.