A300 arrival to sdf reported TCAS RA while on vectors at 4000 ft to the approach.

Attributes
ACN	691138
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sdf.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sdf.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 17l
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sdf.tracon
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	691138
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	691137
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment : tcas
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

We were level at 4000 ft heading 270 des under approach radar control. The controller was discussing a transponder code with the offending aircraft pilot. Because of that discussion; we were unable to communicate with or receive instructions from ATC we received a TA and attempted to get a visual on the aircraft. The TA was followed by the RA. I disconnected the autoplt and complied with the RA with a 4000 FPM rate of climb. We were clear of conflict at approximately 4500 ft and began to return to 4000 ft. The controller finished his conversation with the other pilot who replied 'sorry for the confusion.' the controller then cleared us to intercept the localizer for runway 17L. The first officer advised the controller that we had an RA with an aircraft that required us to climb. The controller stated that he had been in radio contact with the other aircraft which was operating VFR. The controller then cleared us for the approach and advised us to contact tower. Taxiing in; I notified ground control of the incident and stated that a report would follow. We pulled the cvr circuit breakers and made a comment in the aircraft logbook to that effect.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A300 ARR TO SDF RPTED TCAS RA WHILE ON VECTORS AT 4000 FT TO THE APCH.

Narrative: WE WERE LEVEL AT 4000 FT HDG 270 DES UNDER APCH RADAR CTL. THE CTLR WAS DISCUSSING A XPONDER CODE WITH THE OFFENDING ACFT PLT. BECAUSE OF THAT DISCUSSION; WE WERE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OR RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS FROM ATC WE RECEIVED A TA AND ATTEMPTED TO GET A VISUAL ON THE ACFT. THE TA WAS FOLLOWED BY THE RA. I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND COMPLIED WITH THE RA WITH A 4000 FPM RATE OF CLB. WE WERE CLR OF CONFLICT AT APPROX 4500 FT AND BEGAN TO RETURN TO 4000 FT. THE CTLR FINISHED HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE OTHER PLT WHO REPLIED 'SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION.' THE CTLR THEN CLRED US TO INTERCEPT THE LOC FOR RWY 17L. THE FO ADVISED THE CTLR THAT WE HAD AN RA WITH AN ACFT THAT REQUIRED US TO CLB. THE CTLR STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN IN RADIO CONTACT WITH THE OTHER ACFT WHICH WAS OPERATING VFR. THE CTLR THEN CLRED US FOR THE APCH AND ADVISED US TO CONTACT TWR. TAXIING IN; I NOTIFIED GND CTL OF THE INCIDENT AND STATED THAT A RPT WOULD FOLLOW. WE PULLED THE CVR CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND MADE A COMMENT IN THE ACFT LOGBOOK TO THAT EFFECT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.