Narrative:

While tracking direct to lhs VOR (lake hughes, 108.4), we experienced intermittent loss of signal DF VOR (identify ok). We advised ZLA. He gave us a heading to the VOR, then we advised we were again receiving VOR and proceeded direct (at approximately 30 DME). Getting closer we again lost the signal, advised ATC and he gave us another heading. We then were receiving signal intermittently with CDI deflections left and right. We also mentioned we had heard of other aircraft with same problem the day before (one of them being another company aircraft) (not same aircraft we were in). Finally after advising ZLA of unsuitable signal, center told us when we get to home base, report our VOR receiver inoperative. I maintain it was not our equipment, as we had no other problems with 4 other VOR stations used, both before and after lhs VOR. Notes to consider: at least 3 other aircraft that I know of reported similar problems the night before. Earlier VOR airborne check was satisfactory on same flight. Question: can a controller decide what's inoperative on your aircraft? Also, controller did not seem to want to accept anything might be wrong with VOR facility. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter said he has heard nothing further from FAA. He also said that he discussed the VOR problem with other flight crews and they confirmed what he had said. He said that the VOR seems to be working better now and there are no further problems. His main concern is the attitude of the controller arbitrarily telling him to have his VOR receiver checked.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LHS VOR WAS GIVING ERRATIC SIGNALS.

Narrative: WHILE TRACKING DIRECT TO LHS VOR (LAKE HUGHES, 108.4), WE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOSS OF SIGNAL DF VOR (IDENT OK). WE ADVISED ZLA. HE GAVE US A HDG TO THE VOR, THEN WE ADVISED WE WERE AGAIN RECEIVING VOR AND PROCEEDED DIRECT (AT APPROX 30 DME). GETTING CLOSER WE AGAIN LOST THE SIGNAL, ADVISED ATC AND HE GAVE US ANOTHER HDG. WE THEN WERE RECEIVING SIGNAL INTERMITTENTLY WITH CDI DEFLECTIONS LEFT AND RIGHT. WE ALSO MENTIONED WE HAD HEARD OF OTHER ACFT WITH SAME PROBLEM THE DAY BEFORE (ONE OF THEM BEING ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT) (NOT SAME ACFT WE WERE IN). FINALLY AFTER ADVISING ZLA OF UNSUITABLE SIGNAL, CENTER TOLD US WHEN WE GET TO HOME BASE, REPORT OUR VOR RECEIVER INOPERATIVE. I MAINTAIN IT WAS NOT OUR EQUIPMENT, AS WE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH 4 OTHER VOR STATIONS USED, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER LHS VOR. NOTES TO CONSIDER: AT LEAST 3 OTHER ACFT THAT I KNOW OF REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS THE NIGHT BEFORE. EARLIER VOR AIRBORNE CHECK WAS SATISFACTORY ON SAME FLT. QUESTION: CAN A CTLR DECIDE WHAT'S INOPERATIVE ON YOUR ACFT? ALSO, CTLR DID NOT SEEM TO WANT TO ACCEPT ANYTHING MIGHT BE WRONG WITH VOR FAC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: REPORTER SAID HE HAS HEARD NOTHING FURTHER FROM FAA. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE DISCUSSED THE VOR PROBLEM WITH OTHER FLT CREWS AND THEY CONFIRMED WHAT HE HAD SAID. HE SAID THAT THE VOR SEEMS TO BE WORKING BETTER NOW AND THERE ARE NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. HIS MAIN CONCERN IS THE ATTITUDE OF THE CTLR ARBITRARILY TELLING HIM TO HAVE HIS VOR RECEIVER CHECKED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.