Date: 201401
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZZ.ARTCC, FO
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: MD-11
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Cruise
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZZ
Aircraft component: Air/Ground Communication
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Not Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Automation Aircraft Other Automation; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: While cruising at FL370 the First Officer's Communications Control Panel (CCP) showed 'panel fail' on the frequency screens. The VHF #2 still worked; just the First Officer's CCP would not tune any radios. About 5 minutes later when given a frequency change to 123.00 the Captain's CCP would not tune VHF #1 radio as when we tried to change the frequencies it would just go back to the previous frequency 129.1. At that time we started using the #2 VHF tuning it with the #3 CCP. At this time the Captain called Maintenance Control via the sat phone and attempted to reset the VHF #2 radio with no success. (At this time we told Center that we could not change frequencies and he said to stay on 129.1 while we were attempting to reset the #2 VHF per Maintenance Control.) We attempted to use #3 VHF as well but it kept going back into DATA mode for the ACARS. The call to Maintenance Control was finished and they researched how to utilize VHF #3; i.e. disconnect it from ACARS. They sent us the circuit breakers to pull and sent it to us via ACARS a few minutes later. By this time the #2 VHF was the same as #1 VHF in that it could not change frequencies; although it was working fine; i.e. could broadcast. The attempt to disconnect the ACARS from #3 VHF was unsuccessful and so the Captain called Maintenance Control back. (At this time we were around 10 minutes from ZZZZ1 airspace and we told Center that we could not switch frequency and to please call ZZZZ1 for us and notify them that we could only broadcast on 129.1 and we were working on the problem. We informed them that we were going to try and reset the radios entirely and might go NORDO. Center told us that if we could no longer communicate to squawk 7600 and that they would inform ZZZZ1.) Maintenance Control said that the reset of all the VHF radios was the only option left and as we could not change frequencies on any radio. Maintenance Control said they had never done it airborne as it was usually only done on the ground; but in effect we would be NORDO in a few minutes anyway; so we concurred that we should try it. The Captain then pulled all VHF radio CBs and waited one minute. When he pushed them back in all the radios reset and returned to normal function for the rest of the flight. We regained radio communication right around the ZZZZ1 FIR and continued on as normal.




Synopsis: MD11 Captain experiences loss of communication radio frequency control while at FL370. ATC is advised of the inability to change frequencies and Maintenance Control is contacted. At Maintenance Control's suggestion all VHF circuit breakers are pulled and reset after one minute and all communication radios return to normal operation.