RVR call made when equipment in the test mode. Corrected by the tower.

Attributes
ACN	221487
Time
Date	199209
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cle
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2400 msl bound upper : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cle tower : cle
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	221487
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	221381
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on the approach, having been cleared for an ILS approach -- GS out. The ATIS had not mentioned anything about the GS being out and the WX was worse than the 500 ft ceiling and 7 mi visibility being reported. When we were 3 mi from the final approach fix, the tower controller called the visibility 6000 plus RVR and the prevailing better than 1 mi. We were cleared to land. 1 mi before the final approach fix, the controller said the RVR was 4500, prevailing visibility 1 mi. The approach plate showed that we needed 5000 RVR to continue the approach so the captain announced our intention to go missed approach. The controller then said 'RVR is unusable, visibility is 1 mi.' we re-intercepted the approach and landed in heavy rain. The captain called the tower by phone on the ground and he was told that the RVR device went into a self-test mode on the hour, which happened to be during our approach. They agreed that it was confusing to us in the cockpit, but assured us that the visibility was above mins for the approach. The controller assured the captain that nothing was incorrect with what either of us did. Supplemental information from acn 221381: I was told that the RVR went into a self test mode at on the hour to 3 mins past the hour. It does this all the time at that specific time of day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RVR CALL MADE WHEN EQUIP IN THE TEST MODE. CORRECTED BY THE TWR.

Narrative: WE WERE ON THE APCH, HAVING BEEN CLRED FOR AN ILS APCH -- GS OUT. THE ATIS HAD NOT MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT THE GS BEING OUT AND THE WX WAS WORSE THAN THE 500 FT CEILING AND 7 MI VISIBILITY BEING RPTED. WHEN WE WERE 3 MI FROM THE FINAL APCH FIX, THE TWR CTLR CALLED THE VISIBILITY 6000 PLUS RVR AND THE PREVAILING BETTER THAN 1 MI. WE WERE CLRED TO LAND. 1 MI BEFORE THE FINAL APCH FIX, THE CTLR SAID THE RVR WAS 4500, PREVAILING VISIBILITY 1 MI. THE APCH PLATE SHOWED THAT WE NEEDED 5000 RVR TO CONTINUE THE APCH SO THE CAPT ANNOUNCED OUR INTENTION TO GO MISSED APCH. THE CTLR THEN SAID 'RVR IS UNUSABLE, VISIBILITY IS 1 MI.' WE RE-INTERCEPTED THE APCH AND LANDED IN HVY RAIN. THE CAPT CALLED THE TWR BY PHONE ON THE GND AND HE WAS TOLD THAT THE RVR DEVICE WENT INTO A SELF-TEST MODE ON THE HR, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE DURING OUR APCH. THEY AGREED THAT IT WAS CONFUSING TO US IN THE COCKPIT, BUT ASSURED US THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS ABOVE MINS FOR THE APCH. THE CTLR ASSURED THE CAPT THAT NOTHING WAS INCORRECT WITH WHAT EITHER OF US DID. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 221381: I WAS TOLD THAT THE RVR WENT INTO A SELF TEST MODE AT ON THE HR TO 3 MINS PAST THE HOUR. IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME AT THAT SPECIFIC TIME OF DAY.

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.