Air carrier medium large transport lost communication with TRACON.

Attributes
ACN	95724
Time
Date	198810
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 205 flight time total : 13000
ASRS Report	95724
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 960
ASRS Report	95526
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At 13000' level flight, 250 KTS, I asked the first officer to make the cabin announcement about seatbelts and arrival time because I was flying the airplane. The first officer switched to intercom, picked up the P/a microphone and made the announcement. As he began, center switched us to approach control. I switched to 127.9, checked in and acknowledged '8000', slow to 180 KTS.' sometime afterward the first officer finished the announcement and returned. I merely said, '8000', 180 KTS,' pointing to the altitude reminder. I did not say, 'we are on a new frequency.' somehow, when the first officer switched from intercom, we ceased to get instructions from approach control, even though we could hear other flts. I asked the first officer to request instructions. We were told to go to 127.9. At this time everything normalized. Recommendations: always tell the other pilot of frequency changes when there are distrs in the cockpit. Controllers should attempt to reach crew on last assigned frequency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG LOST COM WITH TRACON.

Narrative: AT 13000' LEVEL FLT, 250 KTS, I ASKED THE F/O TO MAKE THE CABIN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT SEATBELTS AND ARR TIME BECAUSE I WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE. THE F/O SWITCHED TO INTERCOM, PICKED UP THE P/A MIC AND MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT. AS HE BEGAN, CENTER SWITCHED US TO APCH CTL. I SWITCHED TO 127.9, CHKED IN AND ACKNOWLEDGED '8000', SLOW TO 180 KTS.' SOMETIME AFTERWARD THE F/O FINISHED THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND RETURNED. I MERELY SAID, '8000', 180 KTS,' POINTING TO THE ALT REMINDER. I DID NOT SAY, 'WE ARE ON A NEW FREQ.' SOMEHOW, WHEN THE F/O SWITCHED FROM INTERCOM, WE CEASED TO GET INSTRUCTIONS FROM APCH CTL, EVEN THOUGH WE COULD HEAR OTHER FLTS. I ASKED THE F/O TO REQUEST INSTRUCTIONS. WE WERE TOLD TO GO TO 127.9. AT THIS TIME EVERYTHING NORMALIZED. RECOMMENDATIONS: ALWAYS TELL THE OTHER PLT OF FREQ CHANGES WHEN THERE ARE DISTRS IN THE COCKPIT. CTLRS SHOULD ATTEMPT TO REACH CREW ON LAST ASSIGNED FREQ.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.