PA31 controller expressed concern regarding radar and beacon coverage.

Attributes
ACN	612815
Time
Date	200403
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : nse.tacan
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 1100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p31.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Jet Ranger/Kiowa/206
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : non radar controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 3 controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 11 controller time certified in position1 : 11
ASRS Report	612815
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : nsa beacon coverage other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Situations
ATC Facility	radar equipment : p31.tracon

Narrative:

A united states military training bell helicopter was recovering to south whiting NAS via visual course rules. His aircraft only intermittently tagged on the radar scope. We have a constant problem in this area of aircraft not tagging and tracking as they should. The problem could be with the nsr ASR-8 radar antenna, or with its associated beacon tracking system. There are also blind areas to the east of the radar antenna, where aircraft should tag and track but don't. The FAA is aware of the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING RADAR AND BEACON COVERAGE.

Narrative: A UNITED STATES MIL TRAINING BELL HELI WAS RECOVERING TO SOUTH WHITING NAS VIA VISUAL COURSE RULES. HIS ACFT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY TAGGED ON THE RADAR SCOPE. WE HAVE A CONSTANT PROB IN THIS AREA OF ACFT NOT TAGGING AND TRACKING AS THEY SHOULD. THE PROB COULD BE WITH THE NSR ASR-8 RADAR ANTENNA, OR WITH ITS ASSOCIATED BEACON TRACKING SYS. THERE ARE ALSO BLIND AREAS TO THE E OF THE RADAR ANTENNA, WHERE ACFT SHOULD TAG AND TRACK BUT DON'T. THE FAA IS AWARE OF THE PROB.

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.