Enroute controller described a loss of separation event; listing workload and lack of supervisory at...

Narrative:

[I was] working a combined sector; no d-side and no a-side. I did not ask for a d-side. My printer had run out of paper and there was no one to assist; trying to change paper while working sector was obviously a bad idea. My supervisor was unable to change [the paper] and I did not ask for a d-side. A trislander was level at 140 and a chancellor was stopped at 130 for traffic. I needed to get the trislander down to 090 so I turned the chancellor to a heading of 135 degrees. Based on their history and their proximity to each other; I thought it would be safe to discontinue vertical separation. I climbed the chancellor to 150 and descended the trislander to 090. When I realized it was not going to work; I issued turns that did not work because they were not given in a timely manner. I issued a 25 degree right turn to the trislander and a 15 degree right turn to the chancellor but it obviously did not work. I should have asked for a d-side. The supervisor should have been paying attention and realized that I needed a d-side and so did the sector next to me. This happens all the time; sector is going down the drain but no one is paying attention. It is about percentages of people plugged in and those on break. I should have asked for a d-side. I should not have tried to change my paper on the sector while I was busy. Supervisors need to pay attention more.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described a loss of separation event; listing workload and lack of supervisory attention as causal factors; also admitting to not requesting D-Side assistance and electing to change printer paper adding to the distractions.

Narrative: [I was] working a combined Sector; no D-Side and no A-Side. I did not ask for a D-Side. My printer had run out of paper and there was no one to assist; trying to change paper while working sector was obviously a bad idea. My Supervisor was unable to change [the paper] and I did not ask for a D-Side. A Trislander was level at 140 and a Chancellor was stopped at 130 for traffic. I needed to get the Trislander down to 090 so I turned the Chancellor to a heading of 135 degrees. Based on their history and their proximity to each other; I thought it would be safe to discontinue vertical separation. I climbed the Chancellor to 150 and descended the Trislander to 090. When I realized it was not going to work; I issued turns that did not work because they were not given in a timely manner. I issued a 25 degree right turn to the Trislander and a 15 degree right turn to the Chancellor but it obviously did not work. I should have asked for a D-Side. The Supervisor should have been paying attention and realized that I needed a D-Side and so did the sector next to me. This happens all the time; Sector is going down the drain but no one is paying attention. It is about percentages of people plugged in and those on break. I should have asked for a D-side. I should not have tried to change my paper on the sector while I was busy. Supervisors need to pay attention more.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1012199
Time
Date	201205
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Chancellor 414A / C414
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	BN-2A Mk. III/Trislander
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Enroute controller described a loss of separation event; listing workload and lack of supervisory attention as causal factors; also admitting to not requesting d-side assistance and electing to change printer paper adding to the distractions.