Date: 201204
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: BWI.Airport, MD
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Descent
Airspace: Class E ZDC
ATC / advisory: Center ZDC
Aircraft component: Air/Ground Communication
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Distraction
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: On arrival into BWI on the RAVEN Arrival; we were talking to Washington Center when we began experiencing radio problems with VHF #1. Each call from Washington Center was very hard to understand with bad static and other noise in the background. The First Officer tried the frequency on VHF #2 and found no problems. We were at 15;000 FT approaching SABBI on the arrival when we were handed off to POTOMAC Approach. When the First Officer called Approach; we experienced the same problems with VHF #1; but received no further descent for the arrival. This confirmed to me that it was a radio problem and I made the decision to switch over to VHF #2 as primary for the remainder of the flight into BWI. The First Officer switched his radio and I put the company frequency for BWI in VHF #1. When I looked up; I saw that we were approaching NICCO with its crossing restriction of 12;000 and we were still at 15;000 FT and getting high on path. When I said something about needing a descent the First Officer stated that we had been given a 'descend via the RAVEN for arrival into BWI'. I had never heard the second call from Approach with the descent clearance. I started down as quickly as possible; deployed the speedbrakes; but I got a little ham handed with the automation. When I glanced down at my COMM panel; I realized that my VHF #2 volume was turned down to a low setting and I turned it up. We missed the crossing restriction by 600 FT-800 FT. I got the aircraft back on path and the rest of the arrival was uneventful.The time frame between the missed call and the radio switch over was very short (30-45 seconds) and the distance from SABBI and NICCO is only 11.0 miles. The changeover could have been done better. I needed to be aggressive yet smooth to make the restriction at NICCO. The automation definitely slowed the process. I should have selected vertical speed or PWS; and lowered the nose aggressively and had the First Officer set 12;000 in the altitude window for a quicker transition to make the restriction. I believe I could have made the crossing restriction if I had done it this way. The ham handed use of the automation in VNAV slowed the process when I needed to be quick and aggressive to make the NICOO at 12;000.On the ground in BWI; I wrote up VHF #1 and Maintenance replaced the transmitter. We experienced no problems with VHF #1 on the next leg.




Synopsis: A B737-700 flight crew failed to comply with a STAR crossing restriction following a comm radio static problem which required they utilize the #2 Comm for ATC communications.  During the switchover the Captain had failed to turn up the #2 volume and missed the clearance.