Flight crew of a B737-800 responded several times during departure climb to a TCASII RA showing approaching traffic head-on. However, no traffic was observed or indicated to be in conflict by ATC, both departure and center control.

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Attributes
ACN	456456
Time
Date	199912
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gsp.airport
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc tracon : gsp.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	456456
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While on climb/departure from gsp to atl on air carrier X, level at 10000 ft MSL, TCASII gave an RA and showed pop-up traffic dead ahead. TCASII called for a climb. First officer initiated a climb of 400-500 ft. No aircraft seen and ATC reported no traffic. Then while climbing through 13000 ft MSL, TCASII again gave an RA of 'monitor vertical speed' and showed a need for decreasing pitch in pfd. Pop-up traffic showed on nose again. We leveled off and traffic disappeared. ZTL reported no traffic and none observed. Then climbing through FL180, TCASII again gave an RA for pop-up traffic dead ahead. We observed no traffic and took no action. Turned TCASII off for remainder of flight and entered in aircraft log as TCASII malfunction. Reported to company by cdr.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A B737-800 RESPONDED SEVERAL TIMES DURING DEP CLB TO A TCASII RA SHOWING APCHING TFC HEAD-ON. HOWEVER, NO TFC WAS OBSERVED OR INDICATED TO BE IN CONFLICT BY ATC, BOTH DEP AND CTR CTL.

Narrative: WHILE ON CLB/DEP FROM GSP TO ATL ON ACR X, LEVEL AT 10000 FT MSL, TCASII GAVE AN RA AND SHOWED POP-UP TFC DEAD AHEAD. TCASII CALLED FOR A CLB. FO INITIATED A CLB OF 400-500 FT. NO ACFT SEEN AND ATC RPTED NO TFC. THEN WHILE CLBING THROUGH 13000 FT MSL, TCASII AGAIN GAVE AN RA OF 'MONITOR VERT SPD' AND SHOWED A NEED FOR DECREASING PITCH IN PFD. POP-UP TFC SHOWED ON NOSE AGAIN. WE LEVELED OFF AND TFC DISAPPEARED. ZTL RPTED NO TFC AND NONE OBSERVED. THEN CLBING THROUGH FL180, TCASII AGAIN GAVE AN RA FOR POP-UP TFC DEAD AHEAD. WE OBSERVED NO TFC AND TOOK NO ACTION. TURNED TCASII OFF FOR REMAINDER OF FLT AND ENTERED IN ACFT LOG AS TCASII MALFUNCTION. RPTED TO COMPANY BY CDR.

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.