Narrative:

While working combined position on ric radar coatt sector, fak sector, final controller. Air carrier X advised he had descended 1000 ft to avoid traffic. The problem arose when working combined I tried to get higher from ZDC via land line and there was no answer to the call. I turned and climbed the aircraft and thought to myself I would try again to get the center. I was then distracted by other duties including sequencing traffic to final runway 20 and 2 aircraft to brv VOR in-trail landing iad. My instinct when I first signed on to these combined position was to ask for a final controller, I did not. My instinct when I did not get an answer from the center, was to assign air carrier X 8000 ft or turn to a 250 degree heading. I did not do this. To correct this situation from recurring, the position should not be combined or help should be requested. At ric, staffing office does not allow for help and we have become used to just doing it. To correct this situation, I should listen to that voice that told me to stop then climb or vector and not count on setting back to the center for higher. Staffing to allow more position to be open on a regular basis would help.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH RADAR CTLR AT RIC WORKING COMBINED POS ALLOWED ACR TO CLB THROUGH OCCUPIED ALT.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING COMBINED POS ON RIC RADAR COATT SECTOR, FAK SECTOR, FINAL CTLR. ACR X ADVISED HE HAD DSNDED 1000 FT TO AVOID TFC. THE PROB AROSE WHEN WORKING COMBINED I TRIED TO GET HIGHER FROM ZDC VIA LAND LINE AND THERE WAS NO ANSWER TO THE CALL. I TURNED AND CLBED THE ACFT AND THOUGHT TO MYSELF I WOULD TRY AGAIN TO GET THE CTR. I WAS THEN DISTRACTED BY OTHER DUTIES INCLUDING SEQUENCING TFC TO FINAL RWY 20 AND 2 ACFT TO BRV VOR IN-TRAIL LNDG IAD. MY INSTINCT WHEN I FIRST SIGNED ON TO THESE COMBINED POS WAS TO ASK FOR A FINAL CTLR, I DID NOT. MY INSTINCT WHEN I DID NOT GET AN ANSWER FROM THE CTR, WAS TO ASSIGN ACR X 8000 FT OR TURN TO A 250 DEG HDG. I DID NOT DO THIS. TO CORRECT THIS SIT FROM RECURRING, THE POS SHOULD NOT BE COMBINED OR HELP SHOULD BE REQUESTED. AT RIC, STAFFING OFFICE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR HELP AND WE HAVE BECOME USED TO JUST DOING IT. TO CORRECT THIS SIT, I SHOULD LISTEN TO THAT VOICE THAT TOLD ME TO STOP THEN CLB OR VECTOR AND NOT COUNT ON SETTING BACK TO THE CTR FOR HIGHER. STAFFING TO ALLOW MORE POS TO BE OPEN ON A REGULAR BASIS WOULD HELP.

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.