Medium large transport radar inoperative, requests vectors. Experiences severe turbulence unable to ...

Attributes
ACN	242185
Time
Date	199305
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : onl
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 32500 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	242185
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	241978
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After departing den we noticed that the radar was not operating properly. The radar was showing WX where none existed, and showed none where there was. Once we were in IMC conditions near sny VOR at FL330 we requested center to give us WX avoidance headings and informed them of our malfunctioning radar. To top most of the WX we climbed to FL370, and about 50 southwest of O'niell VOR center gave us a vector to the south to avoid WX. Shortly thereafter, continuous moderate turbulence turned to heavy then severe. We hit a severe downdraft and were unable to arrest a descent of about 6000 FPM. The autoplt altitude hold was disconnected and full power applied. Numerous control inputs from both pilots did not have any effect on the condition. We advised center immediately, and we bottomed out at 32500 and were caught in a very strong updraft up to FL340. Center advised us to maintain FL330. We managed to regain control of the aircraft and settled altitude at FL330. Rest of flight was uneventful. No injuries to passenger or crew.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG RADAR INOP, REQUESTS VECTORS. EXPERIENCES SEVERE TURB UNABLE TO HOLD ALT.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING DEN WE NOTICED THAT THE RADAR WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE RADAR WAS SHOWING WX WHERE NONE EXISTED, AND SHOWED NONE WHERE THERE WAS. ONCE WE WERE IN IMC CONDITIONS NEAR SNY VOR AT FL330 WE REQUESTED CTR TO GIVE US WX AVOIDANCE HDGS AND INFORMED THEM OF OUR MALFUNCTIONING RADAR. TO TOP MOST OF THE WX WE CLBED TO FL370, AND ABOUT 50 SW OF O'NIELL VOR CTR GAVE US A VECTOR TO THE S TO AVOID WX. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CONTINUOUS MODERATE TURB TURNED TO HVY THEN SEVERE. WE HIT A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT AND WERE UNABLE TO ARREST A DSCNT OF ABOUT 6000 FPM. THE AUTOPLT ALT HOLD WAS DISCONNECTED AND FULL PWR APPLIED. NUMEROUS CTL INPUTS FROM BOTH PLTS DID NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE CONDITION. WE ADVISED CTR IMMEDIATELY, AND WE BOTTOMED OUT AT 32500 AND WERE CAUGHT IN A VERY STRONG UPDRAFT UP TO FL340. CTR ADVISED US TO MAINTAIN FL330. WE MANAGED TO REGAIN CTL OF THE ACFT AND SETTLED ALT AT FL330. REST OF FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. NO INJURIES TO PAX OR CREW.

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.

Medium large transport radar inoperative, requests vectors. Experiences severe turbulence unable to hold altitude.