COM1 PTT - COM1 push-to-talk key is stuck

[TGreen]

Couldn't transmit today (happened in IMC on approach no less). Got the error message set forth in the title to this thread. Same for COM2. I did not have a stuck mike, was not transmitting. Could hear ATC just fine. Any ideas?

 

 

[carusoam]

Wow Todd!  A double com failure...

Let’s see who knows their big G hardware down to this level...

I can start by inviting a few people... from different angles of knowledge...  @donkaye @KLudwick @Baker Avionics

 

Did they both fail at the same time, or as you tried each one..?

Did you have a portable radio to execute plan C?  

Best regards,

-a-

 

[TGreen]

41 minutes ago, carusoam said:

Wow Todd!  A double com failure...

Let’s see who knows their big G hardware down to this level...

I can start by inviting a few people... from different angles of knowledge...  @donkaye @KLudwick @Baker Avionics

 

Did they both fail at the same time, or as you tried each one..?

Did you have a portable radio to execute plan C?  

Best regards,

-a-

 

Anthony, you'll be happy to know that my handheld radio was fully charged and safely stowed in my flight bag at home where I could not lose it. 

Took these photos on the ground. Don't know what COM2 was doing at the time of my COM1 failure because I was too busy to try COM2 when this happened. I had just been cleared for the approach and was in solid IMC. I was able to acknowledge ATC instructions by pressing ident and, with that line of communication established, I just focused on my approach and landing.

[TGreen]

Also, on the ground I switched the headset to the right seat jacks and tried the push-to-talk button on the right seat yoke (testing COM1 and COM2). Couldn't transmit. The push-to-talk buttons on both yokes felt normal and did not feel stuck.

[PT20J]

Sounds like an internal short in the PTT.

[TGreen]

Had it checked out by Leading Edge Avionics at KSNA. They couldn't replicate the failure and didn't get those alerts. Go figure. So my next few flights will be in VMC and with a fully-charged handheld radio readily accessible. The folks at Leading Edge were really nice.

[Baker Avionics]

On 4/22/2021 at 5:13 PM, TGreen said:

Couldn't transmit today (happened in IMC on approach no less). Got the error message set forth in the title to this thread. Same for COM2. I did not have a stuck mike, was not transmitting. Could hear ATC just fine. Any ideas?

 

 

We have been seeing these types of issues and it seems to be an intermittent fault with the Audio Panels.  Either that or you can check the mic jack to see if one of the "tangs" has gotten caught and then bent to touch the "tip" to ground somehow.  That is where the PTT happens is on the tip

[PT20J]

19 minutes ago, Baker Avionics said:

We have been seeing these types of issues and it seems to be an intermittent fault with the Audio Panels.  Either that or you can check the mic jack to see if one of the "tangs" has gotten caught and then bent to touch the "tip" to ground somehow.  That is where the PTT happens is on the tip

Greg, any particular audio panels? I'm getting a GMA 345 soon.

Skip

[Baker Avionics]

Just now, PT20J said:

Greg, any particular audio panels? I'm getting a GMA 345 soon.

Skip

Hey there Skip!  How have you been?!  We have seen GMA340's and some of the G1000 ones.  The GMA345 seems to be a solid unit.  Hey I also just posted some things about your Aspen/KFC150 issue as well.  Take a gander!

[Yetti]

check the PTT wire where it comes out of the back of the yoke tube.  make sure the wires have not worn through the insulation.  It's not a great design since they will wear through after a time.   Check both yoke tubes.

Edited May 9, 2021 by Yetti

[LANCECASPER]

On 4/22/2021 at 7:13 PM, TGreen said:

Couldn't transmit today (happened in IMC on approach no less). Got the error message set forth in the title to this thread. Same for COM2. I did not have a stuck mike, was not transmitting. Could hear ATC just fine. Any ideas?

 

 

If this happens again in flight, if the cord is long enough I would plug into the headset the Co-pilot headset jacks and try that PTT switch. That might help isolate the problem.