Narrative:

A dash 8 was en route; abeam an en route airport they requested a change of destination. I cleared the dash 8 to the en route airport via direct and a decent to 8;000. I asked the pilot for the reason of the change of destination; he stated that they had preformed a precautionary shutdown on one engine. I asked if any assistance was needed; the pilot stated they needed to contact their company for that information. I notified the supervisor of the change of destination and reason; input the data into the flight data processor (fdp); notified approach that the dash 8 diverted; and pass the aircraft information to the divert airport. The pilot of the dash 8 again asked for direct to the airport and I cleared the aircraft again to the airport. I asked the pilot if he had the current ATIS; he stated that he did; I checked for any applicable notams. I stated the current ceiling to the pilot and asked if they wanted to start an approach. They stated that they did not have the airport in sight and would like to fly the localizer/DME runway xx approach via the VOR transition. I cleared the dash 8 direct to the VOR and for the approach. I forgot to issue an altitude to maintain; after the pilot read back the clearance I was going to issue 5;000 at the VOR; but the pilot said he had the airport in sight for the visual. I cleared the dash 8 for a visual approach and again asked if any assistance was needed; the pilot again stated that they needed to talk to their company. I told the dash 8 to contact the airport. The pilot did not seem distressed or under adverse condition; nor was any assistance required. I did not feel the need to declare an emergency. They [the pilots] should know if they require assistance; and should not need to call company.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: En route Controller described a precautionary engine shut down event; where the flight crew elected to divert but not to declare an emergency.

Narrative: A Dash 8 was en route; abeam an en route airport they requested a change of destination. I cleared the Dash 8 to the en route airport via direct and a decent to 8;000. I asked the pilot for the reason of the change of destination; he stated that they had preformed a precautionary shutdown on one engine. I asked if any assistance was needed; the pilot stated they needed to contact their company for that information. I notified the Supervisor of the change of destination and reason; input the data into the Flight Data Processor (FDP); notified Approach that the Dash 8 diverted; and pass the aircraft information to the divert airport. The pilot of the Dash 8 again asked for direct to the airport and I cleared the aircraft again to the airport. I asked the pilot if he had the current ATIS; he stated that he did; I checked for any applicable NOTAMs. I stated the current ceiling to the pilot and asked if they wanted to start an approach. They stated that they did not have the airport in sight and would like to fly the LOC/DME Runway XX Approach via the VOR transition. I cleared the Dash 8 direct to the VOR and for the approach. I forgot to issue an altitude to maintain; after the pilot read back the clearance I was going to issue 5;000 at the VOR; but the pilot said he had the airport in sight for the visual. I cleared the Dash 8 for a visual approach and again asked if any assistance was needed; the pilot again stated that they needed to talk to their company. I told the Dash 8 to contact the airport. The pilot did not seem distressed or under adverse condition; nor was any assistance required. I did not feel the need to declare an emergency. They [the pilots] should know if they require assistance; and should not need to call company.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.