Approach controller report concerning a major short term outage of the primary radar equipment resul...

Attributes
ACN	270921
Time
Date	199405
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sjt
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw tracon : sjt tower : lax
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 3
ASRS Report	270921
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

At XX48 local the sjt approach controller observed a slow sweep condition on the ASR-9 radar scope. 2 mins later, the slow sweep was observed again. 2 mins later the slow sweep was again observed and the radar was then called OTS. At XX59, frequencys were also lost at sjt. The airspace was then returned to ZFW. Southwest region headquarters was notified. At XX19, the sjt ASR-9 and frequencys were returned to service. Airways facilities never could determine what the cause of the failure was, and the only remedy they could supply was to observe the radar and state, 'well, it seems to be ok now.' this situation is happening very frequently and we continually receive the same response. Picture this: IFR WX. Multiple aircraft at sjt. ASR-9 radar fails. Frequencys fail at the same time. All aircraft proceed to the initial approach fix (sjt VOR) and commence no radio procedures. 1 aircraft outbound, 1 aircraft inbound on procedure turn.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR RPT CONCERNING A MAJOR SHORT TERM OUTAGE OF THE PRIMARY RADAR EQUIP RESULTING IN ALL CTL AND FREQS BEING TURNED OVER THE CTR.

Narrative: AT XX48 LCL THE SJT APCH CTLR OBSERVED A SLOW SWEEP CONDITION ON THE ASR-9 RADAR SCOPE. 2 MINS LATER, THE SLOW SWEEP WAS OBSERVED AGAIN. 2 MINS LATER THE SLOW SWEEP WAS AGAIN OBSERVED AND THE RADAR WAS THEN CALLED OTS. AT XX59, FREQS WERE ALSO LOST AT SJT. THE AIRSPACE WAS THEN RETURNED TO ZFW. SW REGION HEADQUARTERS WAS NOTIFIED. AT XX19, THE SJT ASR-9 AND FREQS WERE RETURNED TO SVC. AIRWAYS FACILITIES NEVER COULD DETERMINE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS, AND THE ONLY REMEDY THEY COULD SUPPLY WAS TO OBSERVE THE RADAR AND STATE, 'WELL, IT SEEMS TO BE OK NOW.' THIS SIT IS HAPPENING VERY FREQUENTLY AND WE CONTINUALLY RECEIVE THE SAME RESPONSE. PICTURE THIS: IFR WX. MULTIPLE ACFT AT SJT. ASR-9 RADAR FAILS. FREQS FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. ALL ACFT PROCEED TO THE INITIAL APCH FIX (SJT VOR) AND COMMENCE NO RADIO PROCS. 1 ACFT OUTBOUND, 1 ACFT INBOUND ON PROC TURN.

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.

Approach controller report concerning a major short term outage of the primary radar equipment resulting in all control and frequencys being turned over the center.