Crj crew at FL270 10 mi north of hnk receive a TCASII RA on traffic ahead descending.

Attributes
ACN	588146
Time
Date	200307
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : hnk.vor
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc tower : dca.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	588146
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar/mode c aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

On vector direct to XXX at cruise FL270, was directed to 'turn left 30 degrees for traffic.' captain was flying and I responded to the instruction with a readback. Captain turned left 30 degrees. I noted that the only traffic displayed on TCASII was to the right about 20 mi ahead/2000 ft above, level. I then directed my attention down to make a PA and while doing so heard TCASII announce traffic. I looked up to see yellow symbol display almost straight ahead, descending at 1200 ft above. I looked out, but could not resolve a target. The TA immediately became a 'descend' RA with a red symbol/descending to which the captain responded with an immediate descent. I notified ATC that we were descending in response to an RA. At approximately FL265 the TCASII commanded 'monitor vertical speed.' captain leveled at FL263. ATC directed a climb to FL270 due to traffic ahead. Almost simultaneously received second traffic alert, new target almost straight ahead at 400 ft below. TCASII ended the first RA upon issuing new alert. Captain immediately climbed to FL270. I notified ATC of this during the climb. Upon reporting level, ATC issued an immediate frequency change.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ CREW AT FL270 10 MI N OF HNK RECEIVE A TCASII RA ON TFC AHEAD DSNDING.

Narrative: ON VECTOR DIRECT TO XXX AT CRUISE FL270, WAS DIRECTED TO 'TURN L 30 DEGS FOR TFC.' CAPT WAS FLYING AND I RESPONDED TO THE INSTRUCTION WITH A READBACK. CAPT TURNED L 30 DEGS. I NOTED THAT THE ONLY TFC DISPLAYED ON TCASII WAS TO THE R ABOUT 20 MI AHEAD/2000 FT ABOVE, LEVEL. I THEN DIRECTED MY ATTN DOWN TO MAKE A PA AND WHILE DOING SO HEARD TCASII ANNOUNCE TFC. I LOOKED UP TO SEE YELLOW SYMBOL DISPLAY ALMOST STRAIGHT AHEAD, DSNDING AT 1200 FT ABOVE. I LOOKED OUT, BUT COULD NOT RESOLVE A TARGET. THE TA IMMEDIATELY BECAME A 'DSND' RA WITH A RED SYMBOL/DSNDING TO WHICH THE CAPT RESPONDED WITH AN IMMEDIATE DSCNT. I NOTIFIED ATC THAT WE WERE DSNDING IN RESPONSE TO AN RA. AT APPROX FL265 THE TCASII COMMANDED 'MONITOR VERT SPD.' CAPT LEVELED AT FL263. ATC DIRECTED A CLB TO FL270 DUE TO TFC AHEAD. ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY RECEIVED SECOND TFC ALERT, NEW TARGET ALMOST STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 400 FT BELOW. TCASII ENDED THE FIRST RA UPON ISSUING NEW ALERT. CAPT IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO FL270. I NOTIFIED ATC OF THIS DURING THE CLB. UPON RPTING LEVEL, ATC ISSUED AN IMMEDIATE FREQ CHANGE.

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.