A319 flight crew receives a TCAS RA during approach to runway 19 dca and executes a go-around.

Attributes
ACN	696940
Time
Date	200605
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dca.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 17000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	696940
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : executed go around flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

As we are breaking out of the clouds; and establishing sight of runway 19 at dca; we get a TCAS traffic alert down low on the left over the river. This evolves into an RA; and we make a missed approach. The tower then starts telling traffic there is a military helicopter over the river. We do the approach again ; and again breakout; and get another traffic alert; and am able to spot the traffic; and continue the approach. Why does the tower allow such nonsense by the military in such a critical area? Called my dispatcher and told him of the event; but did not talk with tower. This is a safety issue; and needs to be fixed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLT CREW RECEIVES A TCAS RA DURING APCH TO RWY 19 DCA AND EXECUTES A GO-AROUND.

Narrative: AS WE ARE BREAKING OUT OF THE CLOUDS; AND ESTABLISHING SIGHT OF RUNWAY 19 AT DCA; WE GET A TCAS TRAFFIC ALERT DOWN LOW ON THE LEFT OVER THE RIVER. THIS EVOLVES INTO AN RA; AND WE MAKE A MISSED APPROACH. THE TOWER THEN STARTS TELLING TRAFFIC THERE IS A MILITARY HELICOPTER OVER THE RIVER. WE DO THE APPROACH AGAIN ; AND AGAIN BREAKOUT; AND GET ANOTHER TRAFFIC ALERT; AND AM ABLE TO SPOT THE TRAFFIC; AND CONTINUE THE APPROACH. WHY DOES THE TOWER ALLOW SUCH NONSENSE BY THE MILITARY IN SUCH A CRITICAL AREA? CALLED MY DISPATCHER AND TOLD HIM OF THE EVENT; BUT DID NOT TALK WITH TOWER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE; AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.