Flight assist to uga with fuel emergency interrupted by radar failure.

Attributes
ACN	280550
Time
Date	199407
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ne13
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oma
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 2
ASRS Report	280550
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility

Narrative:

While working route traffic (one aircraft practice approachs), a single engine cessna 172 called with a fuel emergency. I could not see the aircraft on radar because of his low altitude. But ZMP located the aircraft about 14 mi southeast of pender, northeast. I gave the aircraft a heading to the airport and was able to radar identify him a min or two later. I issued the aircraft 2 more headings. When the aircraft was about 8 mi from the airport. My radar scope and every other one in the facility went blank -- no ARTS, no primary, nothing. I was immediately assisted by a fellow controller who contacted airport facilities personnel. (The airport facilities personnel had been conducting maintenance on the radar.) ZMP was advised of our outage and continued to provide position information to me of the cessna. The radar was returned to services in about 4 or 5 mins. The aircraft landed safely and a supervisor was notified. I have never been given an explanation for the failure. I was very disturbed by this incident, some follow up should have been done. If it had not been for luck, the cooperation of the ZMP controller, and a fellow controller the situation could have easily been much worse.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ASSIST TO UGA WITH FUEL EMER INTERRUPTED BY RADAR FAILURE.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING RTE TFC (ONE ACFT PRACTICE APCHS), A SINGLE ENG CESSNA 172 CALLED WITH A FUEL EMER. I COULD NOT SEE THE ACFT ON RADAR BECAUSE OF HIS LOW ALT. BUT ZMP LOCATED THE ACFT ABOUT 14 MI SE OF PENDER, NE. I GAVE THE ACFT A HDG TO THE ARPT AND WAS ABLE TO RADAR IDENT HIM A MIN OR TWO LATER. I ISSUED THE ACFT 2 MORE HDGS. WHEN THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 8 MI FROM THE ARPT. MY RADAR SCOPE AND EVERY OTHER ONE IN THE FACILITY WENT BLANK -- NO ARTS, NO PRIMARY, NOTHING. I WAS IMMEDIATELY ASSISTED BY A FELLOW CTLR WHO CONTACTED ARPT FACILITIES PERSONNEL. (THE ARPT FACILITIES PERSONNEL HAD BEEN CONDUCTING MAINT ON THE RADAR.) ZMP WAS ADVISED OF OUR OUTAGE AND CONTINUED TO PROVIDE POS INFO TO ME OF THE CESSNA. THE RADAR WAS RETURNED TO SVCS IN ABOUT 4 OR 5 MINS. THE ACFT LANDED SAFELY AND A SUPVR WAS NOTIFIED. I HAVE NEVER BEEN GIVEN AN EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE. I WAS VERY DISTURBED BY THIS INCIDENT, SOME FOLLOW UP SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR LUCK, THE COOPERATION OF THE ZMP CTLR, AND A FELLOW CTLR THE SIT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN MUCH WORSE.

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.