An air carrier large transport got confusing instructions while entering a holding pattern.

Attributes
ACN	251811
Time
Date	199309
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lrp airport : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8000
ASRS Report	251811
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While entering a holding pattern at bucks intersection, ATC advised us to turn to heading 280 degrees. Approximately 1 min later ATC advised us 'radar service terminated.' we immediately questioned this as we were on a heading and were then told to descend to 11000 and continue to hold. As we were not in a hold at this time, we requested instructions and a new estimated further clearance time. We were then handed off to approach control and vectored to phl. On arrival, we were asked to telephone center.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT GOT CONFUSING INSTRUCTIONS WHILE ENTERING A HOLDING PATTERN.

Narrative: WHILE ENTERING A HOLDING PATTERN AT BUCKS INTXN, ATC ADVISED US TO TURN TO HDG 280 DEGS. APPROX 1 MIN LATER ATC ADVISED US 'RADAR SVC TERMINATED.' WE IMMEDIATELY QUESTIONED THIS AS WE WERE ON A HDG AND WERE THEN TOLD TO DSND TO 11000 AND CONTINUE TO HOLD. AS WE WERE NOT IN A HOLD AT THIS TIME, WE REQUESTED INSTRUCTIONS AND A NEW ESTIMATED FURTHER CLRNC TIME. WE WERE THEN HANDED OFF TO APCH CTL AND VECTORED TO PHL. ON ARR, WE WERE ASKED TO TELEPHONE CTR.

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.