N90 controller reports of losing radar and missing an aircraft when it is finally changed to another...

Narrative:

I was working the camrn/final position vectoring aircraft for the RNAV GPS Y runway 4L approach when the jfk radar failed. All my planes went into coast and did not come back. I changed to the ewr radar sensor and continued working. Unbeknownst to me; aircraft X went into coast and his target dropped off. When I scanned my radar scope and flight strips; I noticed that aircraft X was missing. There was absolutely no target (no beacon; primary or anything). I asked the pilot to slow to make sure he was still on frequency and when he acknowledged; I informed him that radar contact had been lost. Another controller changed to the isp sensor and saw where aircraft X was. I instructed aircraft X to proceed direct col VOR until radar identified again and this way I knew where he'd be. Radar contact was reestablished somewhere southwest of the chant intersection and I resumed all normal ops. I did not have any other problems with any other aircraft.I have no recommendation. Fix the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: N90 Controller reports of losing RADAR and missing an aircraft when it is finally changed to another RADAR feed. The Controller describes how he found the aircraft and what he did to identify it again.

Narrative: I was working the CAMRN/FINAL position vectoring aircraft for the RNAV GPS Y RWY 4L approach when the JFK RADAR failed. All my planes went into coast and did not come back. I changed to the EWR radar sensor and continued working. Unbeknownst to me; Aircraft X went into coast and his target dropped off. When I scanned my radar scope and flight strips; I noticed that Aircraft X was missing. There was absolutely no target (no beacon; primary or anything). I asked the pilot to slow to make sure he was still on frequency and when he acknowledged; I informed him that radar contact had been lost. Another controller changed to the ISP sensor and saw where Aircraft X was. I instructed Aircraft X to proceed direct COL VOR until radar identified again and this way I knew where he'd be. Radar contact was reestablished somewhere southwest of the CHANT intersection and I resumed all normal ops. I did not have any other problems with any other aircraft.I have no recommendation. Fix the problem.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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	1252902
Time
Date	201504
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	N90.TRACON
State Reference	NY
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 17
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

N90 controller reports of losing radar and missing an aircraft when it is finally changed to another radar feed. The controller describes how he found the aircraft and what he did to identify it again.