Reporter stated radar failed for 20 mins. Radar control panel did not indicate outage.

Attributes
ACN	340264
Time
Date	199607
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ggg
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ebur
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 6 controller radar : 3 flight time total : 90
ASRS Report	340264
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We had yet another radar outage for 20 mins. The reason for the radar outage is still unknown. Also we had discovered an amazing problem. When the radar fails there is no indication on the radar control panel. When this latest outage occurred the control panel was showing normal. The only way we knew we had lost radar is that the date tags started dropping off.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR STATED RADAR FAILED FOR 20 MINS. RADAR CTL PANEL DID NOT INDICATE OUTAGE.

Narrative: WE HAD YET ANOTHER RADAR OUTAGE FOR 20 MINS. THE REASON FOR THE RADAR OUTAGE IS STILL UNKNOWN. ALSO WE HAD DISCOVERED AN AMAZING PROB. WHEN THE RADAR FAILS THERE IS NO INDICATION ON THE RADAR CTL PANEL. WHEN THIS LATEST OUTAGE OCCURRED THE CTL PANEL WAS SHOWING NORMAL. THE ONLY WAY WE KNEW WE HAD LOST RADAR IS THAT THE DATE TAGS STARTED DROPPING OFF.

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.