Control frequency failed.

Attributes
ACN	167529
Time
Date	199101
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller non radar : 6 controller radar : 6
ASRS Report	167529
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

During a peak traffic period simultaneous ILS approachs were in use to runway 14R and runway 14L at ord WX was IFR with ceilings below 700' MSL and restr visibility with light snow. Approach frequency 119.0 transmitter failed for approximately 7 mins. Approximately 10 aircraft were on vectors to the 'low side' at the time when communications ceased the emergency transmitter also failed. Emergency transmitter returned barely in time to avoid loss of sep. Two other frequencys failed simultaneously, 125.0 serving departures from ord and mdw and 118.4 serving mdw arrs and departures. A ucr is, or has been filed concerning this situation. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter stated the 119.0 frequency failed at XX30 (3) and that an ucr was filed by another controller. The frequency has failed once from the date of his report. FAA maintenance is working to determine cause of failure. Reporter stated also that he has 6 yrs of radar experience, 6 yrs non-radar experience. Reporter is satisfied with the effort being taken to correct the deficiency.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTL FREQ FAILED.

Narrative: DURING A PEAK TFC PERIOD SIMULTANEOUS ILS APCHS WERE IN USE TO RWY 14R AND RWY 14L AT ORD WX WAS IFR WITH CEILINGS BELOW 700' MSL AND RESTR VISIBILITY WITH LIGHT SNOW. APCH FREQ 119.0 XMITTER FAILED FOR APPROX 7 MINS. APPROX 10 ACFT WERE ON VECTORS TO THE 'LOW SIDE' AT THE TIME WHEN COMS CEASED THE EMER XMITTER ALSO FAILED. EMER XMITTER RETURNED BARELY IN TIME TO AVOID LOSS OF SEP. TWO OTHER FREQS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY, 125.0 SERVING DEPS FROM ORD AND MDW AND 118.4 SERVING MDW ARRS AND DEPS. A UCR IS, OR HAS BEEN FILED CONCERNING THIS SITUATION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATED THE 119.0 FREQ FAILED AT XX30 (3) AND THAT AN UCR WAS FILED BY ANOTHER CTLR. THE FREQ HAS FAILED ONCE FROM THE DATE OF HIS RPT. FAA MAINT IS WORKING TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE. RPTR STATED ALSO THAT HE HAS 6 YRS OF RADAR EXPERIENCE, 6 YRS NON-RADAR EXPERIENCE. RPTR IS SATISFIED WITH THE EFFORT BEING TAKEN TO CORRECT THE DEFICIENCY.

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.