B737 crew had a TCASII in ZDC class a airspace. Aircraft had the FMS malfunction.

Attributes
ACN	636554
Time
Date	200411
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fak.vortac
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 27000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors arrival star : dylin
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 3400
ASRS Report	636554
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	636555
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

FMC navigation pointer did not point to fix and CDI did not center. On dylin 2 arrival into ewr, FL270 and past fak. We were given a vector to 340 degrees off arrival, then told to turn right to kerno. Our instruments showed kerno behind us. When we asked ZDC about that, they then cleared us to swann. Both times we were cleared, we attempted to make the fix active in the FMC to get steering information. Both times, our FMC did not give us steering. Aircraft was a B737-300 round-dial, without map. We attempted to ask ZDC for a vector, but couldn't get a word in. The controller then gave us a left turn to 030 degrees. About the same time, we got a TCASII alert for traffic to our right and above us. We completed the turn to 030 degrees then was told to turn back right and intercept the dylin 2 arrival, which we did. Remainder of arrival was uneventful. FMC was written up in the maintenance log and maintenance was notified.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW HAD A TCASII IN ZDC CLASS A AIRSPACE. ACFT HAD THE FMS MALFUNCTION.

Narrative: FMC NAV POINTER DID NOT POINT TO FIX AND CDI DID NOT CTR. ON DYLIN 2 ARR INTO EWR, FL270 AND PAST FAK. WE WERE GIVEN A VECTOR TO 340 DEGS OFF ARR, THEN TOLD TO TURN R TO KERNO. OUR INSTS SHOWED KERNO BEHIND US. WHEN WE ASKED ZDC ABOUT THAT, THEY THEN CLRED US TO SWANN. BOTH TIMES WE WERE CLRED, WE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE FIX ACTIVE IN THE FMC TO GET STEERING INFO. BOTH TIMES, OUR FMC DID NOT GIVE US STEERING. ACFT WAS A B737-300 ROUND-DIAL, WITHOUT MAP. WE ATTEMPTED TO ASK ZDC FOR A VECTOR, BUT COULDN'T GET A WORD IN. THE CTLR THEN GAVE US A L TURN TO 030 DEGS. ABOUT THE SAME TIME, WE GOT A TCASII ALERT FOR TFC TO OUR R AND ABOVE US. WE COMPLETED THE TURN TO 030 DEGS THEN WAS TOLD TO TURN BACK R AND INTERCEPT THE DYLIN 2 ARR, WHICH WE DID. REMAINDER OF ARR WAS UNEVENTFUL. FMC WAS WRITTEN UP IN THE MAINT LOG AND MAINT WAS NOTIFIED.

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.