ATC equipment problem radar ASR-9 failed.

Attributes
ACN	275108
Time
Date	199406
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : stl
State Reference	MO
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lax
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 15 controller supervisory : 4
ASRS Report	275108
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on duty in stl TRACON the primary and secondary radar failed on the ASR-9. There was no aural alarm. The only indication of the failure was the lack of targets on the scopes. Cenrap was available in 3 mins, but for those 3 mins approximately 12 aircraft had little means of separation. It also took 20 mins to locate a technician to repair the radar.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASR-9 FAILED.

Narrative: WHILE ON DUTY IN STL TRACON THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RADAR FAILED ON THE ASR-9. THERE WAS NO AURAL ALARM. THE ONLY INDICATION OF THE FAILURE WAS THE LACK OF TARGETS ON THE SCOPES. CENRAP WAS AVAILABLE IN 3 MINS, BUT FOR THOSE 3 MINS APPROX 12 ACFT HAD LITTLE MEANS OF SEPARATION. IT ALSO TOOK 20 MINS TO LOCATE A TECHNICIAN TO REPAIR THE RADAR.

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.