Air carrier in IMC on approach receives TCASII RA. Responds with climb.

Attributes
ACN	200849
Time
Date	199202
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iah tower : sat
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 37 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	200849
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3350 flight time type : 270
ASRS Report	200858
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 900
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While being vectored to runway 26 at iah on a heading of 080 degrees in IMC conditions (visibility 0, turbulence, rain, night) TCASII gave an RA to climb. As per operational procedures we initiated a climb towards the 'green band' of the vertical speed indicator (which is part of the TCASII system) and leveled off at 6500 ft momentarily then descended back to 6000 when clear of the traffic. As we initiated the climb, we told ATC (approach) that we were climbing due to a TCASII warning. They responded by giving us a frequency change (rather poor timing on their part). In that situation I think some kind of response from ATC such as, roger traffic is at XXXX and XXXX altitude would have been better than a frequency change.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR IN IMC ON APCH RECEIVES TCASII RA. RESPONDS WITH CLB.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED TO RWY 26 AT IAH ON A HDG OF 080 DEGS IN IMC CONDITIONS (VISIBILITY 0, TURB, RAIN, NIGHT) TCASII GAVE AN RA TO CLB. AS PER OPERATIONAL PROCS WE INITIATED A CLB TOWARDS THE 'GREEN BAND' OF THE VERT SPD INDICATOR (WHICH IS PART OF THE TCASII SYS) AND LEVELED OFF AT 6500 FT MOMENTARILY THEN DSNDED BACK TO 6000 WHEN CLR OF THE TFC. AS WE INITIATED THE CLB, WE TOLD ATC (APCH) THAT WE WERE CLBING DUE TO A TCASII WARNING. THEY RESPONDED BY GIVING US A FREQ CHANGE (RATHER POOR TIMING ON THEIR PART). IN THAT SITUATION I THINK SOME KIND OF RESPONSE FROM ATC SUCH AS, ROGER TFC IS AT XXXX AND XXXX ALT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN A FREQ CHANGE.

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.