Narrative:

During climb out to our cruising altitude of 9000FT we were assigned a heading to join the VOR radial 065 and proceed on course. While on assigned heading the left side navigation control panel started indicating a VOR in another part of the country on the left corner and continued flashing. The display started fading out and disappearing for a second and than returning with a 00 indication. The CDI indication was not available to the left ehsi and navigation source readout was steady red after 10 seconds. The right side navigation control panel indicated properly and we were able to identify and locate the 065 radial of the VOR. About 10 DME from the VOR we lost the right side CDI and same indications were present on right side navigation control panel as on the left. We were able to get the DME from the fix but unable to get CDI course that indicates the 065 redial. Initially we recognized this problem as a VOR error and notified pct and a minute later we have been told that the VOR is working properly and assigned a new heading to join our route of flight. Once established in the heading we transferred the inverter switch from inv 1-2 as indicated in sf-340 quick reference handbook as a indication of 26-volt AC failure. That did not change anything both of the navigation control panels acted in the same matter. Notified company on the second radio and explained the situation and was told that there is nothing we could do and that continuing our flight to such congested ATC facility was not the right thing to do. We advised ATC that we are retuning to our departure airport and that we needed vectors for a visual approach due to our situation. All landing data was collected and reviewed by the two pilots regarding weather; passenger notification; and appropriate checklists and briefing. The runway assigned to us was first runway xxl but than changed to xxr and while on visual approach the localizer frequency and heading were set on the standby VOR/ILS indicator and it was not indicating properly with approach chart and failure flags present. Uneventful landing was accomplished and taxi to the gate where we were met by maintenance. Failure of CDI indication and abnormal indications and operations of the navigation control panel and standby VOR/ILS instrument.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SF340 Captain experiences VOR/ILS NAV system failures on departure and elects to return for repairs.

Narrative: During climb out to our cruising altitude of 9000FT we were assigned a heading to join the VOR radial 065 and proceed on course. While on assigned heading the left side Navigation Control Panel started indicating a VOR in another part of the country on the left corner and continued flashing. The display started fading out and disappearing for a second and than returning with a 00 indication. The CDI indication was not available to the left EHSI and navigation source readout was steady red after 10 seconds. The right side Navigation Control Panel indicated properly and we were able to identify and locate the 065 radial of the VOR. About 10 DME from the VOR we lost the right side CDI and same indications were present on right side Navigation Control Panel as on the left. We were able to get the DME from the fix but unable to get CDI course that indicates the 065 redial. Initially we recognized this problem as a VOR error and notified PCT and a minute later we have been told that the VOR is working properly and assigned a new heading to join our route of flight. Once established in the heading we transferred the Inverter switch from INV 1-2 as indicated in SF-340 Quick Reference Handbook as a indication of 26-volt AC failure. That did not change anything both of the Navigation Control Panels acted in the same matter. Notified Company on the second Radio and explained the situation and was told that there is nothing we could do and that continuing our flight to such congested ATC facility was not the right thing to do. We advised ATC that we are retuning to our departure airport and that we needed vectors for a visual approach due to our situation. All landing data was collected and reviewed by the two pilots regarding weather; passenger notification; and appropriate checklists and briefing. The runway assigned to us was first runway XXL but than changed to XXR and while on visual approach the LOC frequency and heading were set on the standby VOR/ILS indicator and it was not indicating properly with approach chart and failure flags present. Uneventful landing was accomplished and taxi to the gate where we were met by maintenance. Failure of CDI indication and abnormal indications and operations of the Navigation Control Panel and Standby VOR/ILS Instrument.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.