Narrative:

We departed teb at XX00 for tisx (st croix). On climb out, we experienced a fuel computer failure. After running the checklists, we elected to return teb (place of pickup for our cargo). On approach, we were contacted by our dispatcher (whom we had made aware of our situation) and instructed to return to abe, PA. During the confusion of conducting a visual approach, going through a handoff to another controller, and receiving dispatch instructions, my copilot blurted out to new york approach 'cancel the IFR and proceed VFR to abe airport.' the resultant cancellation, turn to the west and subsequent handoff were too much for the busy controllers (and us) to handle. Not only did the controller scold us for canceling at an inopportune time for him, we had a near miss with a departing king air (departing from teb) that no one called for us. I made the case to my sic later that we may have even been in the class B airspace without a clearance since we canceled our existing one prior to being issued a VFR class B clearance. I suggested he discuss such matters with me prior to acting zealously and in haste.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN LR35 EXPERIENCED AN ENG FUEL CTLR FAILURE SOON AFTER DEP IN CLASS B AIRSPACE AND REQUESTED CLRNC TO RETURN LAND. HOWEVER, FO CANCELED IFR CLRNC TO GO VFR TO HOME BASE CAUSING CTLR DIFFICULTY IN SEPARATING TFC AND A POTENTIAL COLLISION WITH A KING AIR GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED TEB AT XX00 FOR TISX (ST CROIX). ON CLBOUT, WE EXPERIENCED A FUEL COMPUTER FAILURE. AFTER RUNNING THE CHKLISTS, WE ELECTED TO RETURN TEB (PLACE OF PICKUP FOR OUR CARGO). ON APCH, WE WERE CONTACTED BY OUR DISPATCHER (WHOM WE HAD MADE AWARE OF OUR SIT) AND INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO ABE, PA. DURING THE CONFUSION OF CONDUCTING A VISUAL APCH, GOING THROUGH A HDOF TO ANOTHER CTLR, AND RECEIVING DISPATCH INSTRUCTIONS, MY COPLT BLURTED OUT TO NEW YORK APCH 'CANCEL THE IFR AND PROCEED VFR TO ABE ARPT.' THE RESULTANT CANCELLATION, TURN TO THE W AND SUBSEQUENT HDOF WERE TOO MUCH FOR THE BUSY CTLRS (AND US) TO HANDLE. NOT ONLY DID THE CTLR SCOLD US FOR CANCELING AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME FOR HIM, WE HAD A NEAR MISS WITH A DEPARTING KING AIR (DEPARTING FROM TEB) THAT NO ONE CALLED FOR US. I MADE THE CASE TO MY SIC LATER THAT WE MAY HAVE EVEN BEEN IN THE CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT A CLRNC SINCE WE CANCELED OUR EXISTING ONE PRIOR TO BEING ISSUED A VFR CLASS B CLRNC. I SUGGESTED HE DISCUSS SUCH MATTERS WITH ME PRIOR TO ACTING ZEALOUSLY AND IN HASTE.

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.