Flight crew of a super MD80 question the legality of lda DME instrument approach when the DME is ino...

Attributes
ACN	500313
Time
Date	200102
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca.airport
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca.tracon artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 19 Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	500313
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : dme other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA ATC Facility ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Checked on with dulles approach with current ATIS information. Handed off to dca approach control with ATIS information. The controller then said a different ATIS was current, 'tell me when you get it.' got the newest ATIS. Saw a new approach runway 19 DME approach was in use. Set the approach up and no DME was displayed. Queried approach control to DME status. He questioned us were we on the right approach, since dca policy is that only 1 full approach (ie, with DME) is ever operating at a time. Descended on the GS and localizer with a discussion as to the legality of the approach, since the title of the approach is lda DME 19. At approximately 2000 ft, we broke out in full VFR conditions and landed. Just as we broke out, the controller agreed that the DME function was in a failed mode -- sent us to town and landing. In retrospect, we know that there are numerous approachs that only ILS appear in the title, thus, DME is not required. Therefore, should not this approach have some qualifying statement to show that in fact the DME is or is not required?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A SUPER MD80 QUESTION THE LEGALITY OF LDA DME INST APCH WHEN THE DME IS INOP.

Narrative: CHKED ON WITH DULLES APCH WITH CURRENT ATIS INFO. HANDED OFF TO DCA APCH CTL WITH ATIS INFO. THE CTLR THEN SAID A DIFFERENT ATIS WAS CURRENT, 'TELL ME WHEN YOU GET IT.' GOT THE NEWEST ATIS. SAW A NEW APCH RWY 19 DME APCH WAS IN USE. SET THE APCH UP AND NO DME WAS DISPLAYED. QUERIED APCH CTL TO DME STATUS. HE QUESTIONED US WERE WE ON THE RIGHT APCH, SINCE DCA POLICY IS THAT ONLY 1 FULL APCH (IE, WITH DME) IS EVER OPERATING AT A TIME. DSNDED ON THE GS AND LOC WITH A DISCUSSION AS TO THE LEGALITY OF THE APCH, SINCE THE TITLE OF THE APCH IS LDA DME 19. AT APPROX 2000 FT, WE BROKE OUT IN FULL VFR CONDITIONS AND LANDED. JUST AS WE BROKE OUT, THE CTLR AGREED THAT THE DME FUNCTION WAS IN A FAILED MODE -- SENT US TO TOWN AND LNDG. IN RETROSPECT, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS APCHS THAT ONLY ILS APPEAR IN THE TITLE, THUS, DME IS NOT REQUIRED. THEREFORE, SHOULD NOT THIS APCH HAVE SOME QUALIFYING STATEMENT TO SHOW THAT IN FACT THE DME IS OR IS NOT REQUIRED?

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.

Flight crew of a super MD80 question the legality of lda DME instrument approach when the DME is inoperative.