Baron 55/Cochise
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 122; Flight Crew Total 2063; Flight Crew Type 185
Workload; Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
During climbout and after establishing initial contact with Approach; I had made two more replies to their queries (IDENT; and Radar Contact). While performing my cockpit duties there was a momentary break in radio chatter. Upon immediate investigation; I realized that the frequency box on the Garmin GTN 650 had 'flip-flopped' back to CTAF (122.7). I immediately switched the frequency back and heard the last three alpha/numeric identifiers of my call sign. I answered this call and was handed off to the next successive Controller for the route. Prior to the loss of communications I had isolated the crew from the passengers on the audio panel mounted above the Garmin GTN 650. It could have been at this point that I may have inadvertently touched the 'touch screen' of the GTN 650 which could have 'flip-flopped' the frequency.
An IFR BE-55 pilot became temporarily NORDO after he inadvertently selected the CTAF departure airport frequency on his Garmin GTN 650 touch screen frequency selector.