A widebody transport crew lost communication radar at 1500 ft while in a thunderstorm area.

Attributes
ACN	211033
Time
Date	199205
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lbl
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37500 msl bound upper : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	211033
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

While flying wbound direct to anton chico VOR, 82 NM south of lbl VOR, we experienced radar failure in IMC conditions. We requested vectors for WX avoidance several times, but although center could hear us, we could not hear them until several mins later. We encountered heavy rain and severe turbulence, resulting in a 90 KT airspeed loss. We transmitted on center frequency that we were unable to maintain altitude. We subsequently lost 1500 ft before exiting the turbulence. As we climbed back to assigned altitude, radio reception was regained. Center then cleared us to deviate as necessary and descend as low as FL310 if necessary. They also advised us that they had been receiving us continuously, and that they had been attempting to reply.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A WDB CREW LOST COM RADAR AT 1500 FT WHILE IN A TSTM AREA.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING WBOUND DIRECT TO ANTON CHICO VOR, 82 NM S OF LBL VOR, WE EXPERIENCED RADAR FAILURE IN IMC CONDITIONS. WE REQUESTED VECTORS FOR WX AVOIDANCE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT ALTHOUGH CTR COULD HEAR US, WE COULD NOT HEAR THEM UNTIL SEVERAL MINS LATER. WE ENCOUNTERED HVY RAIN AND SEVERE TURB, RESULTING IN A 90 KT AIRSPD LOSS. WE XMITTED ON CTR FREQ THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT. WE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST 1500 FT BEFORE EXITING THE TURB. AS WE CLBED BACK TO ASSIGNED ALT, RADIO RECEPTION WAS REGAINED. CTR THEN CLRED US TO DEVIATE AS NECESSARY AND DSND AS LOW AS FL310 IF NECESSARY. THEY ALSO ADVISED US THAT THEY HAD BEEN RECEIVING US CONTINUOUSLY, AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO REPLY.

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.