Narrative:

May/tue/94, the radar system at charlotte suffered a beacon failure on channel 1. When channel 2 was brought up it too was not working. Approximately 10 mins later, the charlotte radar was in cenrap. Atlanta center advised that they had to shut their computer down for maintenance. The charlotte radar system was primary only for 30 mins. I have been advised that the problem is a control transfer switch that will not allow the beacon to be changed from one channel to another. This information was provided to me by a supervisor who was informed by the radar supervisor. I believe that this once again shows that the radar system at charlotte needs to be totally inspected from one end to the other and the problems found should be repaired immediately. Evidently this problem has been at the radar site for some time. It appears that there is a problem with obtaining parts for our radar. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated they still have problems with the beacon system, but a new mode south beacon system is being installed. This was as a result of calling the administrators hot line and reporting the problem. FAA maintenance team has been sent to the facility for priority action.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASR-9 BEACON FAILED.

Narrative: MAY/TUE/94, THE RADAR SYS AT CHARLOTTE SUFFERED A BEACON FAILURE ON CHANNEL 1. WHEN CHANNEL 2 WAS BROUGHT UP IT TOO WAS NOT WORKING. APPROX 10 MINS LATER, THE CHARLOTTE RADAR WAS IN CENRAP. ATLANTA CTR ADVISED THAT THEY HAD TO SHUT THEIR COMPUTER DOWN FOR MAINT. THE CHARLOTTE RADAR SYS WAS PRIMARY ONLY FOR 30 MINS. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE PROB IS A CTL TRANSFER SWITCH THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE BEACON TO BE CHANGED FROM ONE CHANNEL TO ANOTHER. THIS INFO WAS PROVIDED TO ME BY A SUPVR WHO WAS INFORMED BY THE RADAR SUPVR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ONCE AGAIN SHOWS THAT THE RADAR SYS AT CHARLOTTE NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY INSPECTED FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER AND THE PROBS FOUND SHOULD BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. EVIDENTLY THIS PROB HAS BEEN AT THE RADAR SITE FOR SOME TIME. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A PROB WITH OBTAINING PARTS FOR OUR RADAR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THEY STILL HAVE PROBS WITH THE BEACON SYS, BUT A NEW MODE S BEACON SYS IS BEING INSTALLED. THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF CALLING THE ADMINISTRATORS HOT LINE AND RPTING THE PROB. FAA MAINT TEAM HAS BEEN SENT TO THE FACILITY FOR PRIORITY ACTION.

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.