Narrative:

On sep/xx/94, the runway lights failed on 3 separate occasions. At XA23 air carrier X, on a 1 1/2 mi final to runway 16R, was sent around in low IFR conditions when the lights failed. At approximately XA34, the port of seattle (position) reported the lead in light for the stop bars had failed. At XB26, air carrier Y entered runway 16L and reported the runway lights had failed. At XB45, the position changed generators and the lights were out for several mins. The position did a runway check at XB48 and reported that the runway lights were working properly. At XB52, with Z on his departure roll, the runway 16L lights failed again. The runway visual range was only 600 ft at the time of his departure. The position lights have had a history of poor reliability. Commercial power and backup substations along with standby generators have failed to provide continuous power for the runway lighting system. The reasons for the failures have not always been clear. We are losing confidence in these system. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the port of seattle has now installed a continuous power source to the runway lights and installed air cooling to the vaults for the lights. This seems to have solved the problem.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RWY LIGHTS FAILED DURING A PERIOD OF LOW VISIBILITY AT SEA.

Narrative: ON SEP/XX/94, THE RWY LIGHTS FAILED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. AT XA23 ACR X, ON A 1 1/2 MI FINAL TO RWY 16R, WAS SENT AROUND IN LOW IFR CONDITIONS WHEN THE LIGHTS FAILED. AT APPROX XA34, THE PORT OF SEATTLE (POS) RPTED THE LEAD IN LIGHT FOR THE STOP BARS HAD FAILED. AT XB26, ACR Y ENTERED RWY 16L AND RPTED THE RWY LIGHTS HAD FAILED. AT XB45, THE POS CHANGED GENERATORS AND THE LIGHTS WERE OUT FOR SEVERAL MINS. THE POS DID A RWY CHK AT XB48 AND RPTED THAT THE RWY LIGHTS WERE WORKING PROPERLY. AT XB52, WITH Z ON HIS DEP ROLL, THE RWY 16L LIGHTS FAILED AGAIN. THE RWY VISUAL RANGE WAS ONLY 600 FT AT THE TIME OF HIS DEP. THE POS LIGHTS HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF POOR RELIABILITY. COMMERCIAL PWR AND BACKUP SUBSTATIONS ALONG WITH STANDBY GENERATORS HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS PWR FOR THE RWY LIGHTING SYS. THE REASONS FOR THE FAILURES HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN CLR. WE ARE LOSING CONFIDENCE IN THESE SYS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE PORT OF SEATTLE HAS NOW INSTALLED A CONTINUOUS PWR SOURCE TO THE RWY LIGHTS AND INSTALLED AIR COOLING TO THE VAULTS FOR THE LIGHTS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROB.

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.