Radar equipment problem artss IIIA air carrier X data tag went into coast.

Attributes
ACN	228863
Time
Date	199212
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tpa
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tpa tower : pbi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure sid : sid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller radar : 11
ASRS Report	228863
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

Air carrier X departed runway 18R at tampa. Handed off to center, via ARTS. ARTS data block showed acceptance, and aircraft was now on a 'C' track. As I turned the aircraft northbound, 7 mi southwest of tampa, the primary target turned north and the data block went west, away from the target. The data block then went to coast 'CST', and then disappeared. Data block reacquired on primary target 7 mi west of tampa. It was 10 flying mi from the time the data block left the primary target until it reacquired back on again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RADAR EQUIP PROBLEM ARTSS IIIA ACR X DATA TAG WENT INTO COAST.

Narrative: ACR X DEPARTED RWY 18R AT TAMPA. HANDED OFF TO CTR, VIA ARTS. ARTS DATA BLOCK SHOWED ACCEPTANCE, AND ACFT WAS NOW ON A 'C' TRACK. AS I TURNED THE ACFT NBOUND, 7 MI SW OF TAMPA, THE PRIMARY TARGET TURNED N AND THE DATA BLOCK WENT W, AWAY FROM THE TARGET. THE DATA BLOCK THEN WENT TO COAST 'CST', AND THEN DISAPPEARED. DATA BLOCK REACQUIRED ON PRIMARY TARGET 7 MI W OF TAMPA. IT WAS 10 FLYING MI FROM THE TIME THE DATA BLOCK LEFT THE PRIMARY TARGET UNTIL IT REACQUIRED BACK ON AGAIN.

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.