Narrative:

I was working the local control west position. Most of the equipment was fully functional; however the local control west asde-X (airport surface detection equipment) scope was only operational in one specific configuration. When I asked when it was going to be fixed I was told that the part that allows us to reconfigure the asde-X to recall our specific pref sets was not operational and that af (airway facilities) didn't have any funds available in order to purchase the parts required to fix it. It has been out of service since last week.when aircraft X arrived at the runway for departure I coordinated for a departure hole. I was informed that my hole was behind aircraft Y on final. I instructed aircraft Z to turn right at alpha 6 and contact ground. Aircraft Y landed runway 34L right behind aircraft Z; and I instructed aircraft X to line up and wait runway 34L; and to be ready for an immediate; with traffic 4 mile final. I then instructed aircraft Y to turn right at alpha 6 and contact ground. However after aircraft Z exited runway 34L he came to a complete stop just past the hold short lines as aircraft Y was exiting. I then instructed aircraft Y to expedite to alpha 7; turn right; and contact ground but it was too late. I instructed aircraft X to exit the runway and cancelled aircraft a's landing clearance; aircraft a acknowledged. When aircraft B checked in I scanned out to the final and told aircraft B to continue. As I scanned back to the asde-X to ensure aircraft X was indeed exiting the runway; I had to look twice; (since my asde-X display was stuck in a configuration that was a full 180 degrees different than what my personal pref sets would have been.)I had to instruct aircraft X to exit the runway again. Aircraft X acknowledges the instructions that time; but coasts past twy alpha 2 on their way to alpha 3. I then instructed aircraft a to go around to the left side of the runway for traffic. Aircraft a does not acknowledge but the aircraft begins to climb and sidestep left. I immediately verified the go around instructions with aircraft a and they acknowledged. I then gave climb out instructions to aircraft a and a speed restriction. He acknowledged. Once again I issued instructions for aircraft X to exit at alpha 3 and taxi via twy alpha to runway 34L. Aircraft X acknowledged. I then issued a turn to aircraft a and he acknowledged. Aircraft a was then shipped to approach control.I feel the dysfunctional configuration of the local control west asde-X display was a contributing factor in not sending aircraft a around a couple seconds earlier; since I had to look twice to locate aircraft X on my asde-X to verify he was actually exiting the runway. As I stated before; my personal pref sets are exactly 180 degrees different than what was currently displayed on the asde-X scope. When I work the local control west position I usually look at the bottom of my scope to see runway 34L in my configuration and was having to force myself to look at the top instead. Since every second that goes by is critical at times; I feel the asde-X scope was a safety hazard for me in its current state.furthermore I find it ridiculous that a government entity as large as the FAA; couldn't spare a few dollars by repairing a highly critical piece of radar equipment that we depend upon on a daily basis to ensure the safety of the flying public.if I had not loaded aircraft X for departure; it might have worked out; but I doubt it since aircraft Y was not able to completely exit the runway anyway.the asde-X is a highly critical piece of equipment used for separation in the tower and should not be allowed to operate without immediately being repaired when it breaks down. My recommendation: keep highly critical equipment parts to repair the equipment such as the asde-X on hand if able or release the funds necessary in order to have the equipment repaired in a timely manner.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Tower Controller reported late go around instruction due to equipment limitations distracting him.

Narrative: I was working the Local Control West position. Most of the equipment was fully functional; however the Local Control West ASDE-X (Airport Surface Detection Equipment) scope was ONLY operational in one specific configuration. When I asked when it was going to be fixed I was told that the part that allows us to reconfigure the ASDE-X to recall our specific Pref Sets was not operational and that AF (Airway Facilities) didn't have any funds available in order to purchase the parts required to fix it. It has been out of service since last week.When Aircraft X arrived at the runway for departure I coordinated for a Departure hole. I was informed that my hole was behind Aircraft Y on final. I instructed Aircraft Z to Turn Right at Alpha 6 and contact ground. Aircraft Y landed RWY 34L right behind Aircraft Z; and I instructed Aircraft X to Line Up and Wait RWY 34L; and to be ready for an immediate; with traffic 4 mile final. I then instructed Aircraft Y to turn right at Alpha 6 and contact ground. However after Aircraft Z exited RWY 34L he came to a complete stop just past the hold short lines as Aircraft Y was exiting. I then instructed Aircraft Y to expedite to Alpha 7; turn right; and contact ground but it was too late. I instructed Aircraft X to exit the runway and cancelled Aircraft A's landing clearance; Aircraft A acknowledged. When Aircraft B checked in I scanned out to the Final and told Aircraft B to continue. As I scanned back to the ASDE-X to ensure Aircraft X was indeed exiting the runway; I had to look twice; (Since my ASDE-X Display was stuck in a configuration that was a full 180 degrees different than what my personal Pref Sets would have been.)I had to instruct Aircraft X to exit the runway again. Aircraft X acknowledges the instructions that time; but coasts past TWY Alpha 2 on their way to Alpha 3. I then instructed Aircraft A to Go Around to the left side of the runway for traffic. Aircraft A does not acknowledge but the Aircraft begins to climb and sidestep left. I immediately verified the Go Around instructions with Aircraft A and they acknowledged. I then gave climb out instructions to Aircraft A and a speed restriction. He acknowledged. Once again I issued instructions for Aircraft X to exit at Alpha 3 and taxi via TWY Alpha to RWY 34L. Aircraft X acknowledged. I then issued a turn to Aircraft A and he acknowledged. Aircraft A was then shipped to Approach Control.I feel the dysfunctional configuration of the Local Control West ASDE-X display was a contributing factor in not sending Aircraft A around a couple seconds earlier; since I had to look twice to locate Aircraft X on my ASDE-X to verify he was actually exiting the runway. As I stated before; my personal Pref Sets are exactly 180 degrees different than what was currently displayed on the ASDE-X scope. When I work the Local Control West position I usually look at the bottom of my scope to see RWY 34L in my configuration and was having to force myself to look at the top instead. Since EVERY SECOND that goes by is critical at times; I feel the ASDE-X scope was a SAFETY HAZARD for me in its current state.Furthermore I find it ridiculous that a Government Entity as large as the FAA; couldn't spare a few dollars by repairing a highly critical piece of radar equipment that we depend upon on a daily basis to ensure the safety of the flying public.If I had not loaded Aircraft X for departure; it might have worked out; but I doubt it since Aircraft Y was not able to completely exit the runway anyway.The ASDE-X is a highly critical piece of equipment used for separation in the tower and should not be allowed to operate without immediately being repaired when it breaks down. My recommendation: Keep highly critical equipment parts to repair the equipment such as the ASDE-X on hand if able or release the funds necessary in order to have the equipment repaired in a timely manner.

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.