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C421 pilot reports difficulty contacting center using an HF radio after departing on an overwater flight and believes that pilots should have the option of using a satellite phone. Less than an hour after after takeoff an engine problem develops and the right engine is shut down and the flight returns single engine to the departure point.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1227609 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201412 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Golden Eagle 421 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Oceanic |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Reciprocating Engine Assembly |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 23 Flight Crew Total 2199 Flight Crew Type 216 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical |
Narrative:
Communicated with tower for takeoff instructions and cleared to takeoff. After takeoff; tower instructed pilot to contact center and report back to tower. Problems with initial communications with ATC due to HF not functioning properly and then going to the use of a satellite phone. By the time communication [is] established with center; tower was no longer within communication range. [Soon after]; plane developed engine trouble and the right engine was shut down and feathered in accordance with the emergency checklist. Fuel to the right engine was stopped. The pilot elected to return to departure point rather than proceed to destination. The rest of the flight was conducted on the left engine and a single engine VFR landing was made. Oceanic flights should be allowed to use satellite phones for communications rather than HF radios or at least the pilots should be given a choice.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C421 pilot reports difficulty contacting Center using an HF radio after departing on an overwater flight and believes that pilots should have the option of using a satellite phone. Less than an hour after after takeoff an engine problem develops and the right engine is shut down and the flight returns single engine to the departure point.
Narrative: Communicated with tower for takeoff instructions and cleared to takeoff. After takeoff; tower instructed pilot to contact Center and report back to tower. Problems with initial communications with ATC due to HF not functioning properly and then going to the use of a satellite phone. By the time communication [is] established with Center; tower was no longer within communication range. [Soon after]; plane developed engine trouble and the right engine was shut down and feathered in accordance with the emergency checklist. Fuel to the right engine was stopped. The pilot elected to return to departure point rather than proceed to destination. The rest of the flight was conducted on the left engine and a single engine VFR landing was made. Oceanic flights should be allowed to use satellite phones for communications rather than HF radios or at least the pilots should be given a choice.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.