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Enroute controller described event when weather information was apparently not issued to an air carrier who was struck by lightning; had smoke in the cabin and windshield spider web issues; the flight crew returned to the departure airport in an emergency status; reporter claimed position should have had d-side prior to the event.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 843548 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200907 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.ARTCC |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Enroute |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Radar 21 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 21 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
Moderate to extreme precipitation was in the bulk of my airspace. A long line of thunderstorms were in the area since I came in at XA00 local. The low altitude sectors were all combined. I did not have a d-side. I was working the sector alone with multiple aircraft; moderately busy; and lots of weather. Air carrier X was a departure out of ZZZ. I gave him direct xxxxx to keep him south of the thunderstorm line. I was calling weather to all other aircraft and was surprised that I did not call the weather to him until after his problem. At XI12 air carrier X told me that he needed to return to his departure airport. At XI17 air carrier X told me that he was struck by lightning or something and that his windshield was a spider web. He said that there was smoke in the cabin and that they needed a fire truck standing by; I processed air carrier X as an emergency. My supervisor and approach we notified of air carrier X's problems and need for a fire truck. At XI31; I switched air carrier X to approach. All in all; the sector became extremely busy and should have been split out with all the weather in the area. I did not have a d-side until I told the supervisor of air carrier X's problem. I can only talk to one airplane at a time; and when you have 5 VHF frequencies and their VHF the sector gets congested fast. In hindsight; the sector should have been split before this ever happened.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Enroute Controller described event when weather information was apparently not issued to an air carrier who was struck by lightning; had smoke in the cabin and windshield spider web issues; the flight crew returned to the departure airport in an emergency status; reporter claimed position should have had d-side prior to the event.
Narrative: Moderate to extreme precipitation was in the bulk of my airspace. A long line of thunderstorms were in the area since I came in at XA00 local. The low altitude sectors were all combined. I did not have a D-side. I was working the sector alone with multiple aircraft; moderately busy; and lots of weather. ACR X was a departure out of ZZZ. I gave him direct XXXXX to keep him south of the thunderstorm line. I was calling weather to all other aircraft and was surprised that I did not call the weather to him until after his problem. At XI12 ACR X told me that he needed to return to his departure airport. AT XI17 ACR X told me that he was struck by lightning or something and that his windshield was a spider web. He said that there was smoke in the cabin and that they needed a fire truck standing by; I processed ACR X as an emergency. My Supervisor and Approach we notified of ACR X's problems and need for a fire truck. At XI31; I switched ACR X to Approach. All in all; the sector became extremely busy and should have been split out with all the weather in the area. I did not have a D-side until I told the Supervisor of ACR X's problem. I can only talk to one airplane at a time; and when you have 5 VHF frequencies and their VHF the sector gets congested fast. In hindsight; the sector should have been split before this ever happened.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.