PA23 pilot on IFR flight had engine failure and requested vectors to nearest airport.

Attributes
ACN	577734
Time
Date	200303
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : toi.airport
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl single value : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain Fog
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-23 Apache (& Geronimo Apache)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time total : 1700
ASRS Report	577734
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While working a light twin aircraft, the aircraft lost an engine over toi, and I asked for vectors to final approach course for the nearest airport. We called to get the WX for tdi, and the recorded message said that the number had been changed to an unpublished number. This took time away from the emergency aircraft. The plane did land successfully in mgm, 1 hour 15 mins after start of event.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA23 PLT ON IFR FLT HAD ENG FAILURE AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO NEAREST ARPT.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING A LIGHT TWIN ACFT, THE ACFT LOST AN ENG OVER TOI, AND I ASKED FOR VECTORS TO FINAL APCH COURSE FOR THE NEAREST ARPT. WE CALLED TO GET THE WX FOR TDI, AND THE RECORDED MESSAGE SAID THAT THE NUMBER HAD BEEN CHANGED TO AN UNPUBLISHED NUMBER. THIS TOOK TIME AWAY FROM THE EMER ACFT. THE PLANE DID LAND SUCCESSFULLY IN MGM, 1 HR 15 MINS AFTER START OF EVENT.

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.