Enroute controller described a loss of separation event when an adjacent TRACON lost radar; declared...

Narrative:

TRACON lost all radar and declared ATC zero. I was called to the sector to be the d-side. I called ZZZ1 TRACON for an airspace briefing and we took all of their traffic and airspace. The helicopter checked in requesting an ILS approach into ZZZ. The r-side vectored him for the approach and cleared him in. Shortly after; we were notified by the supervisor that a challenger had been cleared out of ZZZ; IFR. No separation was provided between the two aircraft. The helicopter was still on frequency; so he was issued a clearance to climb and turn in hopes of avoiding the departing aircraft. The helicopter cancelled IFR. There were several causes of this event. First; both the r-side and I were unaware that there was a VFR tower at ZZZ airport. We did not know we had to apreq inbounds. Second; I don't know who approved the clearance for the challenger; the ZZZ1 approach controller did not say anything about it to me during the briefing; so when my supervisor came over and told me that he had been cleared off; that was the first I had heard of it. There was a lot of confusion due to the transfer of airspace. Normally; when we work ZZZ1 airspace on the midnight shift; the towers at ZZZ1 and ZZZ are closed. We did not have communications in place for ZZZ tower. Also; I have basically no experience transferring airspace from a facility that has gone ATC zero. They were unable to initiate automated handoffs; so I basically had to 'wing it' and have the ZZZ1 controller transfer communications for all aircraft he was working; so that we could radar identify them. Also; according to the LOA with ZZZ1 TRACON; if they do lose radar; they are supposed to continue working aircraft non-radar below 070. For some reason; we took the whole airspace. I am unclear about how the challenger received a clearance to depart ZZZ; so I cannot comment about that. I think that lack of training in transitioning from a loss of radar capability is the largest contributing factor that I can identify in this scenario. We have periodic training in the simulator that is intended to cover less common events such as this. A scenario like this should be added to that training. Also; had LOA procedures been followed; confusion about communication and procedures with ZZZ and ZZZ1 towers would not have been a factor.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described a loss of separation event when an adjacent TRACON lost RADAR; declared ATC ZERO; and resulted in an IFR arrival and IFR departure not being separated. The reporter suggested additional training on unusual events.

Narrative: TRACON lost all RADAR and declared ATC ZERO. I was called to the Sector to be the D-Side. I called ZZZ1 TRACON for an airspace briefing and we took all of their traffic and airspace. The helicopter checked in requesting an ILS approach into ZZZ. The R-Side vectored him for the approach and cleared him in. Shortly after; we were notified by the Supervisor that a Challenger had been cleared out of ZZZ; IFR. No separation was provided between the two aircraft. The helicopter was still on frequency; so he was issued a clearance to climb and turn in hopes of avoiding the departing aircraft. The helicopter cancelled IFR. There were several causes of this event. First; both the R-Side and I were unaware that there was a VFR Tower at ZZZ airport. We did not know we had to APREQ inbounds. Second; I don't know who approved the clearance for the Challenger; the ZZZ1 Approach Controller did not say anything about it to me during the briefing; so when my Supervisor came over and told me that he had been cleared off; that was the first I had heard of it. There was a lot of confusion due to the transfer of airspace. Normally; when we work ZZZ1 airspace on the midnight shift; the Towers at ZZZ1 and ZZZ are closed. We did not have communications in place for ZZZ Tower. Also; I have basically no experience transferring airspace from a facility that has gone ATC zero. They were unable to initiate automated handoffs; so I basically had to 'wing it' and have the ZZZ1 Controller transfer communications for all aircraft he was working; so that we could RADAR identify them. Also; according to the LOA with ZZZ1 TRACON; if they do lose RADAR; they are supposed to continue working aircraft NON-RADAR below 070. For some reason; we took the whole airspace. I am unclear about how the Challenger received a clearance to depart ZZZ; so I cannot comment about that. I think that lack of training in transitioning from a loss of RADAR capability is the largest contributing factor that I can identify in this scenario. We have periodic training in the simulator that is intended to cover less common events such as this. A scenario like this should be added to that training. Also; had LOA procedures been followed; confusion about communication and procedures with ZZZ and ZZZ1 Towers would not have been a factor.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	1036163
Time
Date	201209
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Challenger Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Enroute controller described a loss of separation event when an adjacent TRACON lost radar; declared ATC zero; and resulted in an IFR arrival and IFR departure not being separated. The reporter suggested additional training on unusual events.