Dual transponder failure -- lifeguard flight.

Attributes
ACN	297620
Time
Date	199502
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tracon : n90 tower : ewr tower : bos
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	297620
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While returning from AAA to aab, on a lifeguard flight, the primary transponder became intermittent. We selected the secondary, but upon arrival in aab, it too was intermittent. We had 1 more leg to get the patient to the hospital airport and thought the transponder would come back on line. The transponder was again intermittent and approximately 400 NM south of the hospital airport both xponders failed completely. The WX at the hospital airport was 800 overcast and center and approach could not get a positive identify on us. This caused us to maneuver over the field for 30 min while they tried to work us in. We may have caused delays for other arrs that night and certainly increased the work load on ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DUAL XPONDER FAILURE -- LIFEGUARD FLT.

Narrative: WHILE RETURNING FROM AAA TO AAB, ON A LIFEGUARD FLT, THE PRIMARY XPONDER BECAME INTERMITTENT. WE SELECTED THE SECONDARY, BUT UPON ARR IN AAB, IT TOO WAS INTERMITTENT. WE HAD 1 MORE LEG TO GET THE PATIENT TO THE HOSPITAL ARPT AND THOUGHT THE XPONDER WOULD COME BACK ON LINE. THE XPONDER WAS AGAIN INTERMITTENT AND APPROX 400 NM S OF THE HOSPITAL ARPT BOTH XPONDERS FAILED COMPLETELY. THE WX AT THE HOSPITAL ARPT WAS 800 OVCST AND CTR AND APCH COULD NOT GET A POSITIVE IDENT ON US. THIS CAUSED US TO MANEUVER OVER THE FIELD FOR 30 MIN WHILE THEY TRIED TO WORK US IN. WE MAY HAVE CAUSED DELAYS FOR OTHER ARRS THAT NIGHT AND CERTAINLY INCREASED THE WORK LOAD ON 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.