MD88 flight crew experiences multiple instrument failures while passenger using cell phone.

Attributes
ACN	434779
Time
Date	199904
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : cap.vortac
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-88
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	434779
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe cabin event : passenger electronic device non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : cab 3
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Cabin Crew Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

In cruise at FL310, FMS locked up, navigation display and primary flight display flickered and blanked, route and performance data dumped. #1 mcdu inoperative. #2 mcdu used to re-enter position into IRS. Flight attendant reported passenger was using a cell phone while all this occurred. He was slow to turn his phone off in spite of the flight attendant's insistence. All system were restored about the time he turned the cell phone off.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD88 FLC EXPERIENCES MULTIPLE INST FAILURES WHILE PAX USING CELL PHONE.

Narrative: IN CRUISE AT FL310, FMS LOCKED UP, NAV DISPLAY AND PRIMARY FLT DISPLAY FLICKERED AND BLANKED, RTE AND PERFORMANCE DATA DUMPED. #1 MCDU INOP. #2 MCDU USED TO RE-ENTER POS INTO IRS. FLT ATTENDANT RPTED PAX WAS USING A CELL PHONE WHILE ALL THIS OCCURRED. HE WAS SLOW TO TURN HIS PHONE OFF IN SPITE OF THE FLT ATTENDANT'S INSISTENCE. ALL SYS WERE RESTORED ABOUT THE TIME HE TURNED THE CELL PHONE 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.