ZBW controller responded to en route B737 with total instrument failure, secured lower VMC altitude.

Attributes
ACN	601584
Time
Date	200312
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : bdr.vor
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl single value : 20000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Snow Turbulence Ice
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc tracon : y90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : n/s
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 14 flight time total : 30
ASRS Report	601584
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

At approximately XA30 a B737 informed me that he had a total loss of instrumentation and needed a lower altitude. My assistant and I did the appropriate coordination and I descended the aircraft to 11000 ft. The aircraft stated he needed to find VMC. I asked new york approach if 10000 ft (they were working an aircraft at that altitude) was VMC. They stated no. I relayed that to the pilot. I asked the pilot if his intention was to continue on to bos. He stated yes it was. I offered him the bos WX. He accepted it. My data side then coordination for a lower altitude and a radar handoff. It was accomplished. I descended the aircraft to 7000 ft and frequency changed him to quonset approach. I also informed him that the bases were 3000 ft in his vicinity.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZBW CTLR RESPONDED TO ENRTE B737 WITH TOTAL INST FAILURE, SECURED LOWER VMC ALT.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA30 A B737 INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF INSTRUMENTATION AND NEEDED A LOWER ALT. MY ASSISTANT AND I DID THE APPROPRIATE COORD AND I DSNDED THE ACFT TO 11000 FT. THE ACFT STATED HE NEEDED TO FIND VMC. I ASKED NEW YORK APCH IF 10000 FT (THEY WERE WORKING AN ACFT AT THAT ALT) WAS VMC. THEY STATED NO. I RELAYED THAT TO THE PLT. I ASKED THE PLT IF HIS INTENTION WAS TO CONTINUE ON TO BOS. HE STATED YES IT WAS. I OFFERED HIM THE BOS WX. HE ACCEPTED IT. MY DATA SIDE THEN COORD FOR A LOWER ALT AND A RADAR HDOF. IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED. I DSNDED THE ACFT TO 7000 FT AND FREQ CHANGED HIM TO QUONSET APCH. I ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT THE BASES WERE 3000 FT IN HIS VICINITY.

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.