Medium large transport in process of deviating WX has radar failure. They seek assistance from cente...

Attributes
ACN	342522
Time
Date	199607
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tul
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 29000 msl bound upper : 29000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 7500
ASRS Report	342522
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were climbing out of okc en route to stl. We were looking at a storm over tul with WX to the northwest. It was clear to the s-se as we could see on our radar. All of a sudden, the radar went blank and we got an 'ant fault' display. Doing a 180 degree turn was not an option due to the WX we had coming out of okc. We notified ATC for help around the storm, but they said they really couldn't help much. They called our company going around the WX, that was inbound to okc. With company's radar, and what the ATC control came up with was a 30 degree heading to a 120 degree heading. Within 1 min on that heading, it got very rough and then it started to hail. I guess we were in it for 30 seconds. After that, it smoothed out and was clear on the other side. About 5 mins after the hail, the radar came back on and worked normally. We continued to stl without any problem from then on. We landed, did a walkaround and found damage all over (from what I could see, it was nighttime). We got into another aircraft, and flew it the final leg to mdw. The only thing I can think of, is don't trust ATC's radar for help, period!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG IN PROCESS OF DEVIATING WX HAS RADAR FAILURE. THEY SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM CTR AND FROM COMPANY RADAR. ARE DIRECTED INTO AREA OF SEVERE HAIL AND TURB. EXIT AREA IN 30 SECONDS AND ENTER SMOOTH AIR.

Narrative: WE WERE CLBING OUT OF OKC ENRTE TO STL. WE WERE LOOKING AT A STORM OVER TUL WITH WX TO THE NW. IT WAS CLR TO THE S-SE AS WE COULD SEE ON OUR RADAR. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE RADAR WENT BLANK AND WE GOT AN 'ANT FAULT' DISPLAY. DOING A 180 DEG TURN WAS NOT AN OPTION DUE TO THE WX WE HAD COMING OUT OF OKC. WE NOTIFIED ATC FOR HELP AROUND THE STORM, BUT THEY SAID THEY REALLY COULDN'T HELP MUCH. THEY CALLED OUR COMPANY GOING AROUND THE WX, THAT WAS INBOUND TO OKC. WITH COMPANY'S RADAR, AND WHAT THE ATC CTL CAME UP WITH WAS A 30 DEG HDG TO A 120 DEG HDG. WITHIN 1 MIN ON THAT HEADING, IT GOT VERY ROUGH AND THEN IT STARTED TO HAIL. I GUESS WE WERE IN IT FOR 30 SECONDS. AFTER THAT, IT SMOOTHED OUT AND WAS CLR ON THE OTHER SIDE. ABOUT 5 MINS AFTER THE HAIL, THE RADAR CAME BACK ON AND WORKED NORMALLY. WE CONTINUED TO STL WITHOUT ANY PROB FROM THEN ON. WE LANDED, DID A WALKAROUND AND FOUND DAMAGE ALL OVER (FROM WHAT I COULD SEE, IT WAS NIGHTTIME). WE GOT INTO ANOTHER ACFT, AND FLEW IT THE FINAL LEG TO MDW. THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF, IS DON'T TRUST ATC'S RADAR FOR HELP, PERIOD!

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.

Medium large transport in process of deviating WX has radar failure. They seek assistance from center and from company radar. Are directed into area of severe hail and turbulence. Exit area in 30 seconds and enter smooth air.