Nct controller described operational deviation event claiming changing from one radar system to anot...

Attributes
ACN	800819
Time
Date	200808
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pvf.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : v332.airway
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : military controller : radar
Experience	controller limited radar : 9 controller military : 4 controller radar : 6 controller time certified in position1 : 1
ASRS Report	800819
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

When changing from one radar site to another; aircraft with ARTS data tags from just over 60 mi away to just under 62 mi away from the radar site will drop from the scope and system. More than 62 they stay on scope as 'or' or out of range; 60 or less and they will 'coast' and reacquire. Aircraft was nebound on V332 at 10000 ft MSL on an IFR flight plan. An automated handoff was accomplished to the paradise sector at norcal TRACON (nct). Paradise is a very large sector and can use 2 ASR radar sites (mcclellan mcc and beale bab). Controller was using mcc radar and changed from mcc to bab to check an altitude on an aircraft at his north boundary (poor coverage on mcc north; poor coverage south on bab). At that time the C210 was 60-61 mi from the bab radar site and the data tag dropped from the radar/ARTS and did not reacquire. Controller was working several other aircraft at that time. I assumed the position approximately 10 mins later and was not informed of the C210. The aircraft flew through paradise's airspace and into ZOA sector 42 without a handoff. FAA has since tried to 'fix' the radar/ARTS so aircraft data tags will not drop from the scope.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NCT CTLR DESCRIBED OPDEV EVENT CLAIMING CHANGING FROM ONE RADAR SYSTEM TO ANOTHER CAUSED LOSS OF TARGET THAT RESULTED IN OPDEV.

Narrative: WHEN CHANGING FROM ONE RADAR SITE TO ANOTHER; ACFT WITH ARTS DATA TAGS FROM JUST OVER 60 MI AWAY TO JUST UNDER 62 MI AWAY FROM THE RADAR SITE WILL DROP FROM THE SCOPE AND SYS. MORE THAN 62 THEY STAY ON SCOPE AS 'OR' OR OUT OF RANGE; 60 OR LESS AND THEY WILL 'COAST' AND REACQUIRE. ACFT WAS NEBOUND ON V332 AT 10000 FT MSL ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. AN AUTOMATED HDOF WAS ACCOMPLISHED TO THE PARADISE SECTOR AT NORCAL TRACON (NCT). PARADISE IS A VERY LARGE SECTOR AND CAN USE 2 ASR RADAR SITES (MCCLELLAN MCC AND BEALE BAB). CTLR WAS USING MCC RADAR AND CHANGED FROM MCC TO BAB TO CHK AN ALT ON AN ACFT AT HIS N BOUNDARY (POOR COVERAGE ON MCC N; POOR COVERAGE S ON BAB). AT THAT TIME THE C210 WAS 60-61 MI FROM THE BAB RADAR SITE AND THE DATA TAG DROPPED FROM THE RADAR/ARTS AND DID NOT REACQUIRE. CTLR WAS WORKING SEVERAL OTHER ACFT AT THAT TIME. I ASSUMED THE POS APPROX 10 MINS LATER AND WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE C210. THE ACFT FLEW THROUGH PARADISE'S AIRSPACE AND INTO ZOA SECTOR 42 WITHOUT A HDOF. FAA HAS SINCE TRIED TO 'FIX' THE RADAR/ARTS SO ACFT DATA TAGS WILL NOT DROP FROM THE SCOPE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

Nct controller described operational deviation event claiming changing from one radar system to another caused loss of target that resulted in operational deviation.