ATC equipment problem radar ASR-9.

Attributes
ACN	273494
Time
Date	199406
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : clt
State Reference	NC
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 8 controller radar : 19 controller supervisory : 1
ASRS Report	273494
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The radar technician requested a beacon channel change. When the beacon channel was changed, the new channel did not work. The supervisor changed back to the original channel. When the beacon channel was on the backup channel, the primary radar failed. At least 5 controllers in the TRACON made comments about no radar. I was looking at my scope and did not see any type of radar on it. After 40 seconds or so, the primary radar and the beacon returned to normal. What makes this situation so critical is the maiden radar site was unavailable due to maintenance. Without the maiden radar, we have no cenrap backup. With the past history of our radar, it seems to me that we should not take any chances when we are working on a beacon channel that is not giving us any problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB RADAR ASR-9.

Narrative: THE RADAR TECHNICIAN REQUESTED A BEACON CHANNEL CHANGE. WHEN THE BEACON CHANNEL WAS CHANGED, THE NEW CHANNEL DID NOT WORK. THE SUPVR CHANGED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CHANNEL. WHEN THE BEACON CHANNEL WAS ON THE BACKUP CHANNEL, THE PRIMARY RADAR FAILED. AT LEAST 5 CTLRS IN THE TRACON MADE COMMENTS ABOUT NO RADAR. I WAS LOOKING AT MY SCOPE AND DID NOT SEE ANY TYPE OF RADAR ON IT. AFTER 40 SECONDS OR SO, THE PRIMARY RADAR AND THE BEACON RETURNED TO NORMAL. WHAT MAKES THIS SIT SO CRITICAL IS THE MAIDEN RADAR SITE WAS UNAVAILABLE DUE TO MAINT. WITHOUT THE MAIDEN RADAR, WE HAVE NO CENRAP BACKUP. WITH THE PAST HISTORY OF OUR RADAR, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE SHOULD NOT TAKE ANY CHANCES WHEN WE ARE WORKING ON A BEACON CHANNEL THAT IS NOT GIVING US ANY PROBS.

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.