A beech C90 experienced engine failure in cruise flight. The pilot returned to departure airport.

Attributes
ACN	748203
Time
Date	200707
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 22000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Beechcraft Twin Turboprop Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 49.1 flight time total : 796.1 flight time type : 14.5
ASRS Report	748203
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While on an IFR flight plan en route at FL220 in VMC; I lost my left engine. When this occurred; I tried to contact center to declare an emergency and was unable to raise them. This occurred shortly after abc center handed me off to xyz center. Another aircraft relayed the emergency for me. I made the decision to return to the previously assigned frequency and declare an emergency with ZZZ1 center and was able to establish positive communications with them. I relayed my intention to return to ZZZ; as this was the nearest adequate airport. The flight terminated in a safe landing with no damage or injuries. I feel that ZZZ1 center may have handed me off too soon. When I first contacted xyz center; I had positive communication established; but within a few mins I'd lost positive contact with them. Radio coverage in that area should be examined.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BEECH C90 EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT RETURNED TO DEPARTURE AIRPORT.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN ENRTE AT FL220 IN VMC; I LOST MY L ENG. WHEN THIS OCCURRED; I TRIED TO CONTACT CTR TO DECLARE AN EMER AND WAS UNABLE TO RAISE THEM. THIS OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER ABC CTR HANDED ME OFF TO XYZ CTR. ANOTHER ACFT RELAYED THE EMER FOR ME. I MADE THE DECISION TO RETURN TO THE PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED FREQ AND DECLARE AN EMER WITH ZZZ1 CTR AND WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH POSITIVE COMS WITH THEM. I RELAYED MY INTENTION TO RETURN TO ZZZ; AS THIS WAS THE NEAREST ADEQUATE ARPT. THE FLT TERMINATED IN A SAFE LNDG WITH NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES. I FEEL THAT ZZZ1 CTR MAY HAVE HANDED ME OFF TOO SOON. WHEN I FIRST CONTACTED XYZ CTR; I HAD POSITIVE COM ESTABLISHED; BUT WITHIN A FEW MINS I'D LOST POSITIVE CONTACT WITH THEM. RADIO COVERAGE IN THAT AREA SHOULD BE EXAMINED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.