B737-400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Company Policy; Chart Or Publication; Weather
I'm the First Officer on this flight as well as the Pilot Not Flying. The flight started well; pushed from the gate and taxied out to the runway full length. It was a bleeds auto takeoff flaps 5 with a clearance limit of runway heading to 3;000 feet. Shortly after liftoff I as the Pilot Not Flying contacted Departure. We were given a right turn to 350 heading and a climb to 15;000 feet. Getting close to 15;000 feet we were transferred to Center and were given direct to a fix and a climb to 34;000 feet. As we were getting close to the fix we noticed our radar was picking up on weather 80 miles out which would be right at the fix. The Captain and I used CRM talked and made a decision to go left around where we could see VMC conditions and was more direct to destination. We requested this deviation and were transferred us to the next Center for the request. We were approximately 60 miles from the weather now.We swapped frequencies and checked in with Center. After check in we advised we had weather ahead and would need deviation left 30 degrees for about 80 miles. The response was you are cleared to deviate left of course AFTER the fix. I told him ok hold on we need to reassess and get back with him. In doing so me and the Captain came to the conclusion that the fix was within 5 miles of the edge of the weather and this was not going to work. So using all my resources I asked the Controller what would be the best way around according to his radar and if anyone has come out the way we were. His response was negative. So we again said we needed 30 left for weather ahead we would not make it to the fix. At this point deviation was approved. About 40 miles into the deviation I noticed we were in another facility airspace at which point I contacted Center as a courtesy to make sure cutting through was coordinated and he said it's been done.After deviations we had an uneventful flight with no more deviations or weather and an uneventful landing with taxi to gate. I don't ever recall stating we had inoperative equipment over the radio. Had we had to disclose this information it would have been written up in the maintenance logbook upon gate arrival. The Captain wrote up a Lavatory seat broken on this flight. If we had problems with equipment it would have been written up. I hope this description of the events that happened are clear in this statement. This report was caused by a notification of FAA investigation of saying we had inoperative equipment on the radio. Which is false. If such thing was said it would have been in the logbook for maintenance personnel to review and fix period.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737 flight crew reported a miscommunication that led ATC to believe they had inoperative equipment.