Loss of radar. - NASA ASRS

Attributes
ACN	291148
Time
Date	199412
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : srq
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 14
ASRS Report	291148
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Our new ASR 9 radar system failed. The ARTS targets started 'CST' coasting in all sectors. ARTS targets would randomly fly off the targets in different directions, causing a lot of confusion. I'm not sure that I maintained separation during this event. But I think so. While maintenance and supervisors tried to restore the old ASR 8 system we were without primary radar for about 2-3 mins. Once the ASR 8 system was on line everything was normal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF RADAR.

Narrative: OUR NEW ASR 9 RADAR SYS FAILED. THE ARTS TARGETS STARTED 'CST' COASTING IN ALL SECTORS. ARTS TARGETS WOULD RANDOMLY FLY OFF THE TARGETS IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, CAUSING A LOT OF CONFUSION. I'M NOT SURE THAT I MAINTAINED SEPARATION DURING THIS EVENT. BUT I THINK SO. WHILE MAINT AND SUPVRS TRIED TO RESTORE THE OLD ASR 8 SYS WE WERE WITHOUT PRIMARY RADAR FOR ABOUT 2-3 MINS. ONCE THE ASR 8 SYS WAS ON LINE EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL.

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.