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Flight crew of medium large transport approached line of trw with radar inoperative. Made 180 degree turn, holding altitude until in communication with center.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 178588 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199105 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : iah |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 20000 msl bound upper : 20000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zhu tracon : sna |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | climbout : intermediate altitude descent other landing other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 2500 |
| ASRS Report | 178588 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Aircraft radar had been written up for various problems (repeat). Maintenance made some adjustments to radar stabilizer and signed off. We then took off from iah to lft. At around 60 mi we ran into a line of thunderstorms. Radar had been on but still not painting very well. At this point we asked for radar vectors around cells and through the line (which was dissipating). Although we knew it was clear on the other side, we still didn't feel comfortable continuing as our radar was now at the point of complete dysfunction. Static electricity was building around the outside of the aircraft (elmo's fire) and became so intense communication went from difficult to nonexistent. We decided the safest course of action would be to return to iah. We could not follow normal lost communication procedures due to the WX. In that there is no written procedure, we elected to turn 180 degrees and hold altitude until contact was again made with ZHU. This occurred at approximately 40 mi from iah at 20000'. During this period, I transmitted in the blind our actions. After contact was made, we were let down back to iah west/O any further difficulty. No comment was made by ATC.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLT CREW OF MLG APCHED LINE OF TRW WITH RADAR INOPERATIVE. MADE 180 DEGREE TURN, HOLDING ALT UNTIL IN COM WITH CENTER.
Narrative: ACFT RADAR HAD BEEN WRITTEN UP FOR VARIOUS PROBS (REPEAT). MAINT MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO RADAR STABILIZER AND SIGNED OFF. WE THEN TOOK OFF FROM IAH TO LFT. AT AROUND 60 MI WE RAN INTO A LINE OF TSTMS. RADAR HAD BEEN ON BUT STILL NOT PAINTING VERY WELL. AT THIS POINT WE ASKED FOR RADAR VECTORS AROUND CELLS AND THROUGH THE LINE (WHICH WAS DISSIPATING). ALTHOUGH WE KNEW IT WAS CLR ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE STILL DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE CONTINUING AS OUR RADAR WAS NOW AT THE POINT OF COMPLETE DYSFUNCTION. STATIC ELECTRICITY WAS BUILDING AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE ACFT (ELMO'S FIRE) AND BECAME SO INTENSE COM WENT FROM DIFFICULT TO NONEXISTENT. WE DECIDED THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO RETURN TO IAH. WE COULD NOT FOLLOW NORMAL LOST COM PROCS DUE TO THE WX. IN THAT THERE IS NO WRITTEN PROC, WE ELECTED TO TURN 180 DEGS AND HOLD ALT UNTIL CONTACT WAS AGAIN MADE WITH ZHU. THIS OCCURRED AT APPROX 40 MI FROM IAH AT 20000'. DURING THIS PERIOD, I XMITTED IN THE BLIND OUR ACTIONS. AFTER CONTACT WAS MADE, WE WERE LET DOWN BACK TO IAH W/O ANY FURTHER DIFFICULTY. NO COMMENT WAS MADE BY ATC.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.