Narrative:

While working the abb low sector (the whole area was combined at one sector), the hnb radar malfunctioned. I observed a 'ring around' that was about 5 mi wide and 30 mi long that appeared just south of the abb VORTAC. Any aircraft that I had that came within 5 mi of the ring around were affected. Essentially, each aircraft's beacon disappeared and went into the 'ring around.' the tracks then started tracking on the false targets. The aircraft's actual targets did not reappear until they were clear of the ring around. Some of the targets did not reappear until they were 30 or more mi clear of the situation. I advised the asic who then had airways facilities check on the problem. They then took hnb radar off line and the problem cleared up.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADAR SITE MALFUNCTION CAUSED TRACK JUMPS AND LOSS OF BEACON TARGETS. AIRWAY FACILITIES PERSONNEL TOOK THE RADAR SITE OFF LINE AND THE PROB CLRED UP.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING THE ABB LOW SECTOR (THE WHOLE AREA WAS COMBINED AT ONE SECTOR), THE HNB RADAR MALFUNCTIONED. I OBSERVED A 'RING AROUND' THAT WAS ABOUT 5 MI WIDE AND 30 MI LONG THAT APPEARED JUST S OF THE ABB VORTAC. ANY ACFT THAT I HAD THAT CAME WITHIN 5 MI OF THE RING AROUND WERE AFFECTED. ESSENTIALLY, EACH ACFT'S BEACON DISAPPEARED AND WENT INTO THE 'RING AROUND.' THE TRACKS THEN STARTED TRACKING ON THE FALSE TARGETS. THE ACFT'S ACTUAL TARGETS DID NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THEY WERE CLR OF THE RING AROUND. SOME OF THE TARGETS DID NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THEY WERE 30 OR MORE MI CLR OF THE SIT. I ADVISED THE ASIC WHO THEN HAD AIRWAYS FACILITIES CHK ON THE PROB. THEY THEN TOOK HNB RADAR OFF LINE AND THE PROB CLRED UP.

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.