Large Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Captain was flying and being vectored for an ILS 2R approach in IMC conditions. ATC cleared us to 2500 feet MSL and had us on a heading towards LOUDN I think; perhaps UNIVE. This clearance was prior to us reaching TEARS intersection on the SWFFT2 RNAV arrival. Shortly after leveling off at 2500 feet we received an EGPWS warning 'Terrain Terrain'. Captain flying immediately climbed and the first officer requested a top of climb safe altitude for level off from ATC; BNA approach control. We leveled off at 4000 feet MSL; ATC said there was no terrain conflict. The MSA in the area was 3100 feet MSL. The crew had climbed in response to EGPWS warning in IMC conditions. After level off we requested to be vectored for the approach using published altitudes. ATC provided vectors and the next approach to the same runway was successful.It is my feeling that the vectored altitude was too low for the track the aircraft was on while being vectored. We saw 1300 feet on the radar altimeter while level at 2500 feet and being vectored a few seconds prior to the warnings. Perhaps the terrain was uneven and had a momentary rise in our vicinity triggering the warning. I feel that ATC should not have vectored us this low in the area between the STAR vector point and the published portion of the ILS approach.I don't feel that ATC should have vectored us so low in an area of varying terrain 1300 feet below us and 1500 feet below the nearest localizer fix (LOUDN) ahead of us. The warning occurred in the vicinity of the 1220 feet surface location left of the SEWART frequency box. From there we climbed then received a series of left turns back to the localizer course. We completed that approach to a landing without warnings.
Air Carrier Captain reported receiving an EGPWS warning while being vectored below the MSA by ATC on an approach to BNA in IMC.