A B757-200 captain reported failure of HF comm radios before entering oceanic airspace. After confer...

Narrative:

Departed [on an oceanic leg]. Complete failure of HF comm. Contacted dispatch and maintenance via ACARS and phone patch. Followed direction to pull and reset HF comm circuit breakers. HF would not receive or transmit after many attempts from all comm panels and all mikes; first officer flew aircraft while I worked on comm problem. Could not enter [oceanic] airspace due to no HF. Directed to return to [departure airport] by dispatch. Followed recommendations to make overweight landing. Declared emergency; landed at 207000 pounds with 100 FPM sink rate as directed by QRH. Suggestions: equip 757/767 aircraft with sat phone. Always check HF on ground prior to take off.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B757-200 Captain reported failure of HF comm radios before entering oceanic airspace. After conferring with maintenance and Dispatch; the decision was made to declare an emergency and return to departure airport.

Narrative: Departed [on an oceanic leg]. Complete failure of HF comm. Contacted Dispatch and maintenance via ACARS and phone patch. Followed direction to pull and reset HF comm circuit breakers. HF would not receive or transmit after many attempts from all comm panels and all mikes; First Officer flew aircraft while I worked on comm problem. Could not enter [oceanic] airspace due to no HF. Directed to return to [departure airport] by Dispatch. Followed recommendations to make overweight landing. Declared emergency; landed at 207000 LBS with 100 FPM sink rate as directed by QRH. Suggestions: Equip 757/767 aircraft with sat phone. Always check HF on ground prior to take off.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	915582
Time
Date	201010
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Landing
Component
Aircraft Component	HF SSB
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

A B757-200 captain reported failure of HF comm radios before entering oceanic airspace. After conferring with maintenance and dispatch; the decision was made to declare an emergency and return to departure airport.