CRJ-200 flight crew reported malfunction in flight deck instrumentation during descent. Flight crew diverted and landed uneventfully.
Synopsis
CRJ-200 flight crew reported malfunction in flight deck instrumentation during descent. Flight crew diverted and landed uneventfully.
Narrative
The flight was scheduled from ZZZ1 to ZZZ. Shortly after beginning our descent from cruise we received an EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System) COMP MON Master Caution with an associated IAS flag on both PFDs (Primary Flight Display). The Captain's PFD appeared to show a slightly higher than expected airspeed while the First Officer's PFD showed a significantly slower; and clearly erroneous airspeed. The standby instruments appeared to show the correct airspeed. The Captain who was PF; transferred the controls and began running the QRH after aircraft control was assured. While running the QRH the crew decided to level off at FL250 and request a present position hold from ATC while deciding on the next course of action. The QRH action confirmed that the FO airspeed was unreliable; while at some point the Captain's seemed to return to an expected value. Meanwhile the FO's instruments continued to degrade with PITCH and ROLL flags joining the IAS flag intermittently. The FO attitude indicator was also not matching the Captain's or the standby attitude; and eventually all FO instruments were removed from the PFD with the exception of heading. Based on the severity of the instrument failures; the terrain and lack of radar services at ZZZ; the crew made the decision [request priority handling] and to divert to ZZZ2. While continuing to work through the QRH the crew received vectors to final for RWY XXL in ZZZ2. En route the CPT informed the flight attendant of the situation. After performing an abbreviated approach briefing and descent checklist the Captain resumed pilot flying duties based on the more reliable instruments on his side. The crew began final approach using the pitch and power tables from the QRH. Around this time the instruments appeared to return to normal. The crew made a successful landing at ZZZ2 and received progressive taxi instructions to the gate. Crew briefly diverged from the intended taxiway due to lack of familiarity with the airport and lack of time to brief expected taxi routing. Crew was advised by ground control and returned to the correct routing without incident. Emergency vehicles were available but not required.Cause: Cause of instrument failure is not known at this time.Suggestions: Unable to say until maintenance action on the aircraft is completed.
Second reporter narrative
Upon our decent to cross ZZZZZ intersection at 16000ft; a EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System) COMP MON caution message appeared and both Captains PFD (Primary Flight Display) and FO's both displayed an IAS flag. As pilot flying I switched controls to the First Officer. My FO and I then decided to stop our decent; and begin a diversion to ZZZ1. We made this decision due to the type of equipment failure; the complexity of the Approach at ZZZ; and ZZZ1's proximity; runways; and services. I as Captain also decided to [request priority handling] with ATC; due to the nature of the instrumentation failures. So; we diverted to ZZZ1; and landed the aircraft with no further incidents. Cause: Equipment malfunction was the cause of this incident. I believe the equipment that controls the first officer's instruments failed. Upon completion of the QRH procedures; we determined based off the aircraft's attitude and power setting tables that my side (captains) was still showing correctly. The captain's side instruments also only had a IAS flag; where as the FO's side lost almost every instrument on the PFD; and it took longer for those instruments on the FO's side to come back. Suggestions: I don't have any suggestions for avoiding a recurrence of this event; because it was an equipment failure.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.