INADVERTENT MAYDAY BROADCAST TO ATC. TRAINING IN PROGRESS.

Narrative

I WAS RETURNING FROM A TRAINING FLT WITH A STUDENT WHEN WE CAME UPON ONE OF MY FAVORITE 'EMER' LNDG AREAS; AN ABANDONED GRASS AIRFIELD ABOUT 8 NM WNW OF CALDWELL. I PULLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE; AND ANNOUNCED A SIMULATED ENG FAILURE. THE STUDENT WAS FAIRLY NEW; SO I TOLD HIM I WOULD DEMONSTRATE PROPER EMER PROCS. I WENT THROUGH THE USUAL PROCS (FUEL; MIXTURE; CARB HEAT; ETC). WHEN IT CAME TO THE RADIO CALL; I ACTUALLY DIALED IN 121.5 ON OUR COM (FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 300 HRS OF INSTRUCTING) AND; SINCE BOTH PUSH-TO-TALK SWITCHES WERE BROKEN; PICKED UP THE HANDHELD MIKE AND SAID 'MAYDAY; MAYDAY; MAYDAY; CESSNA 25283; LOST PWR; GOING DOWN 2 MI W OF BOONTON RESERVOIR. PLEASE SEND HELP.' AS I PUT THE MIKE DOWN; I SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT MY CLENCHED FIST HAD DEPRESSED THE XMIT BUTTON ON THE HANDHELD. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS OF SHOCK; I GOT BACK ON THE RADIO AND SAID SOMETHING LIKE 'THAT WAS NOT A GENUINE EMER CALL; REPEAT; NEGATIVE EMER!' A VOICE ON THE OTHER END CAME BACK; ASKING ABOUT AN ACFT GOING DOWN NEAR BOONTON RESERVOIR. I REPEATED 'NEGATIVE EMER; THERE IS NO EMER OVER BOONTON' TO WHICH THE VOICE REPLIED; 'UNDERSTAND NO EMER OVER BOONTON;' AND I CONFIRMED THIS. WE HEADED BACK TO CALDWELL; AND I SPENT THE NEXT HR WATCHING FOR HELIS OUT TO THE W. NONE CAME; TO MY KNOWLEDGE. FOR THE FIRST TIME; AFTER MANY SIMULATED EMERS; I ACTUALLY DIALED IN 121.5. I SHALL NEVER DO SO AGAIN. I AM USED TO USING THE PUSH TO TALK SWITCH; SO I GUESS I WAS CLUMSY WHEN I PICKED UP THE HANDHELD AND INADVERTENTLY DEPRESSED THE SWITCH. I SHALL BE MORE CAREFUL IN THE FUTURE. (*WHICH I NEVER USE IN SIMULATED EMERS; SINCE AN ACTUAL RADIO CALL IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SUPPOSED TO BE MADE. I GUESS I WAS JUST STRIVING FOR REALISM; BECAUSE THAT DAY WE WERE USING THE HANDHELD FOR REAL COMS.)