B737-300 first officer removes self from a flight when dispatched with an inoperative TCAS.

Attributes
ACN	795505
Time
Date	200807
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	795505
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was scheduled for a 3 day trip starting in ZZZ with a ZZZ1 turn then on to ZZZ2. On our first leg to ZZZ1; we were scheduled to take aircraft X; which had the TCAS system deferred. The captain was comfortable taking the aircraft since the WX was VFR. I was not comfortable taking the aircraft because of the numerous TCAS events over the last few yrs. In the event of a pilot or ATC error; this is the last thing that will save my bacon and I feel going without an operable TCAS system is very unwise. Our maintenance folks said they did not have the parts to fix/replace TCAS system so I elected to remove myself from the flight and was replaced by another pilot.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 FO REMOVES SELF FROM A FLT WHEN DISPATCHED WITH AN INOPERATIVE TCAS.

Narrative: I WAS SCHEDULED FOR A 3 DAY TRIP STARTING IN ZZZ WITH A ZZZ1 TURN THEN ON TO ZZZ2. ON OUR FIRST LEG TO ZZZ1; WE WERE SCHEDULED TO TAKE ACFT X; WHICH HAD THE TCAS SYS DEFERRED. THE CAPT WAS COMFORTABLE TAKING THE ACFT SINCE THE WX WAS VFR. I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE TAKING THE ACFT BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS TCAS EVENTS OVER THE LAST FEW YRS. IN THE EVENT OF A PLT OR ATC ERROR; THIS IS THE LAST THING THAT WILL SAVE MY BACON AND I FEEL GOING WITHOUT AN OPERABLE TCAS SYS IS VERY UNWISE. OUR MAINT FOLKS SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX/REPLACE TCAS SYS SO I ELECTED TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE FLT AND WAS REPLACED BY ANOTHER PLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.