An small transport pilot had to return land with an engine problem.

Attributes
ACN	249682
Time
Date	199308
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 1c2
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 17 flight time total : 330 flight time type : 24
ASRS Report	249682
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We were on an IFR flight from 1c2 to pia. We leveled off at 6000 ft and shortly after, the airplane started to shake. At the same time, the propellers went out of sync. Adjusting the propeller controls, throttles, and mixtures did not help. All engine gauges appeared normal. I requested to return to 1c2 from center and was told that I would have a clearance shortly. I explained that I needed a turn as soon as possible to make a precautionary landing. I was cleared for a right turn, direct new lenox. I was then advised to contact chicago approach. The approach controller asked if we needed to do an approach. I advised that we were direct new lenox (with RNAV) and would not need the approach. The controller then gave a vector of 360 degrees to go direct. I was on a heading of 030 degrees (navigating with the RNAV) and was going direct new lenox. As we descended to 4000 ft, we were VMC and my position was confirmed with ground references. The controller then gave a vector of 340 degrees to go direct and I explained that the airport was in sight and we were headed direct on our present heading. The controller then stated he had the wrong airport, approved a frequency change, and gave us traffic information. An uneventful landing was made. I feel a precautionary landing was prudent for safety and the departure airport was the closest. The confusion about the airplane's position relative to the airport could have been alleviated if I had informed the controller that I was RNAV direct and on course upon his first vector.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMT PLT HAD TO RETURN LAND WITH AN ENG PROB.

Narrative: WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT FROM 1C2 TO PIA. WE LEVELED OFF AT 6000 FT AND SHORTLY AFTER, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO SHAKE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PROPS WENT OUT OF SYNC. ADJUSTING THE PROP CTLS, THROTTLES, AND MIXTURES DID NOT HELP. ALL ENG GAUGES APPEARED NORMAL. I REQUESTED TO RETURN TO 1C2 FROM CTR AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE A CLRNC SHORTLY. I EXPLAINED THAT I NEEDED A TURN ASAP TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. I WAS CLRED FOR A R TURN, DIRECT NEW LENOX. I WAS THEN ADVISED TO CONTACT CHICAGO APCH. THE APCH CTLR ASKED IF WE NEEDED TO DO AN APCH. I ADVISED THAT WE WERE DIRECT NEW LENOX (WITH RNAV) AND WOULD NOT NEED THE APCH. THE CTLR THEN GAVE A VECTOR OF 360 DEGS TO GO DIRECT. I WAS ON A HDG OF 030 DEGS (NAVING WITH THE RNAV) AND WAS GOING DIRECT NEW LENOX. AS WE DSNDED TO 4000 FT, WE WERE VMC AND MY POS WAS CONFIRMED WITH GND REFS. THE CTLR THEN GAVE A VECTOR OF 340 DEGS TO GO DIRECT AND I EXPLAINED THAT THE ARPT WAS IN SIGHT AND WE WERE HEADED DIRECT ON OUR PRESENT HDG. THE CTLR THEN STATED HE HAD THE WRONG ARPT, APPROVED A FREQ CHANGE, AND GAVE US TFC INFO. AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG WAS MADE. I FEEL A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG WAS PRUDENT FOR SAFETY AND THE DEP ARPT WAS THE CLOSEST. THE CONFUSION ABOUT THE AIRPLANE'S POS RELATIVE TO THE ARPT COULD HAVE BEEN ALLEVIATED IF I HAD INFORMED THE CTLR THAT I WAS RNAV DIRECT AND ON COURSE UPON HIS FIRST VECTOR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.