Aircraft with chronic WX radar problems has them surface yet again on flight where system was needed...

Attributes
ACN	443427
Time
Date	199907
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny.artcc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial cruise : level descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	443427
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Weather Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

A review of the aircraft logbook prior to departure reveled a history of WX radar malfunctions over the preceding 2 weeks. During the subsequent flight, the same sort of radar malfunctions noted in the logbook reoccurred. There were several thunderstorm cells adjacent to the STAR route for our destination airport. Visual deviations were possible due to VMC condition during the descent. During the last 15 mins of flight, the WX radar operated normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT WITH CHRONIC WX RADAR PROBS HAS THEM SURFACE YET AGAIN ON FLT WHERE SYS WAS NEEDED.

Narrative: A REVIEW OF THE ACFT LOGBOOK PRIOR TO DEP REVELED A HISTORY OF WX RADAR MALFUNCTIONS OVER THE PRECEDING 2 WKS. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FLT, THE SAME SORT OF RADAR MALFUNCTIONS NOTED IN THE LOGBOOK REOCCURRED. THERE WERE SEVERAL TSTM CELLS ADJACENT TO THE STAR RTE FOR OUR DEST ARPT. VISUAL DEVS WERE POSSIBLE DUE TO VMC CONDITION DURING THE DSCNT. DURING THE LAST 15 MINS OF FLT, THE WX RADAR OPERATED NORMALLY.

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.