While being vectored for a visual approach to Runway 8L at ATL the flight crew of a B737-700 inadvertently deselected ATC on their audio selector panels. Upon recognizing the loss the Captain turned toward the airport--away from traffic--while the First Officer tuned the Tower frequency. The Local Controller promptly changed their runway and sent them to the appropriate Tower frequency.
Synopsis
While being vectored for a visual approach to Runway 8L at ATL the flight crew of a B737-700 inadvertently deselected ATC on their audio selector panels. Upon recognizing the loss the Captain turned toward the airport--away from traffic--while the First Officer tuned the Tower frequency. The Local Controller promptly changed their runway and sent them to the appropriate Tower frequency.
Narrative
We were on downwind abeam Runway 8L when Atlanta approach called traffic at 11-12 o'clock. My First Officer replied he was in sight and we were instructed to maintain visual separation. About seven miles from the threshold of 8L we were instructed to turn to a 180 heading as well as maintain a speed of 180 KTS. Soon after we complied; I realized we were approaching the centerline of 8L without receiving a clearance to turn and intercept the final approach course. I asked my First Officer to query Approach Control for a clearance which he did twice without a response.Soon we were passing through the north runway approach courses and did not want to cause any loss of separation with other arriving aircraft. I then turned back towards 8L after clearing the area visually as well as checking TCAS. My First Officer was finally able to contact Atlanta Tower and we were cleared to land on 9R. After we landed; taxied in and parked at our gate I asked my First Officer what had happened and why we had lost communication with Approach Control. He told me he must have selected his audio control panel to VHF 1 accidentally. When he did this during our base leg; he put our Company and Ramp frequency in comm 1 instead of comm 2 which was his original intent. This was the cause of our loss of communication which resulted in our deviation.After analyzing all of the events which resulted in the deviation; I should have realized the loss of communication and reacted sooner than I did. I also know if that you lose communication; check to make sure each pilot's ACP [Audio Control Panel] is set properly and the correct frequency is entered. First and foremost; fly the aircraft and do not wait for instructions if you feel something is out of the ordinary.
Second reporter narrative
While on a heading of 180 and getting closer to our final course; I contacted ATC and requested a heading to intercept the localizer for 8L. After not getting a response; I checked the frequency on VHF 1 and realized that it was not the correct one; both frequencies on VHF 1 active and standby indicators corresponded to Company and Ramp Control respectively; the same frequencies that were preselected on VHF 2. Since I could not remember the last assigned frequency for Approach Control; I tuned the 8L Tower frequency. We contacted Tower and advised our situation; Tower immediately gave us a clearance for a visual approach to 9R; and changed us to 9R frequency. Analyzing the problem I can conclude that while on a 180 heading; I remember preselecting the ramp frequency on Comm Two standby indicator; and then pressing the transfer switch without realizing that the tuning switch for VHF 1 on Comm Two had been selected and was active. In other words; any frequency change on Comm Two was also changing frequencies on Comm One. I suspect that the VHF 1 tuning switch on communication box #2 was inadvertently selected during the flight. Maybe they should be deactivated so each box is tuned independently to prevent this error from happening again.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.