A320 crew had a TCASII RA in ZAB class a airspace.

Attributes
ACN	539710
Time
Date	200202
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : abq.airport
State Reference	NM
Altitude	msl single value : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
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 : 120 flight time total : 10528 flight time type : 451
ASRS Report	539710
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	539269
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : took evasive action none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Got a traffic alert from TCASII followed immediately by RA descend command. Generated target showed +500 ft at 5 mi and remained for 10 seconds or so as we initiated immediate descent. Went down to FL365 and alert ceased/target disappeared. Broadcast action to ZAB during descent and advised by center that only traffic in area was company (tuc-den) at FL330. ZAB controller was aware of our RA procedures, but somewhat upset that we had responded. Contacted dispatch/maintenance controller and received deferral first officer TCASII as entered in logbook. No panic/no injuries. Flight attendants and passenger informed of details. 320 fleet captain. Advised by telephone during turn for next leg. Convinced that no actual traffic existed and false RA resulted from malfunction of 1 of the 2 aircraft TCASII system.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 CREW HAD A TCASII RA IN ZAB CLASS A AIRSPACE.

Narrative: GOT A TFC ALERT FROM TCASII FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY RA DSND COMMAND. GENERATED TARGET SHOWED +500 FT AT 5 MI AND REMAINED FOR 10 SECONDS OR SO AS WE INITIATED IMMEDIATE DSCNT. WENT DOWN TO FL365 AND ALERT CEASED/TARGET DISAPPEARED. BROADCAST ACTION TO ZAB DURING DSCNT AND ADVISED BY CTR THAT ONLY TFC IN AREA WAS COMPANY (TUC-DEN) AT FL330. ZAB CTLR WAS AWARE OF OUR RA PROCS, BUT SOMEWHAT UPSET THAT WE HAD RESPONDED. CONTACTED DISPATCH/MAINT CTLR AND RECEIVED DEFERRAL FO TCASII AS ENTERED IN LOGBOOK. NO PANIC/NO INJURIES. FLT ATTENDANTS AND PAX INFORMED OF DETAILS. 320 FLEET CAPT. ADVISED BY TELEPHONE DURING TURN FOR NEXT LEG. CONVINCED THAT NO ACTUAL TFC EXISTED AND FALSE RA RESULTED FROM MALFUNCTION OF 1 OF THE 2 ACFT TCASII SYS.

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.