A ZDV controller described a below MEA event when a pilot failed to respond to a climb clearance bec...

Narrative:

A PA34 departed bdg and was IFR to gup via E91. MEA between bdg and E91 is 100 and MEA between E91 and gup is 110. Pilot was advised he needed to climb to 110 at E91. Loss of communication [occurred] prior to E91. I made every attempt to contact pilot via relay through another airborne aircraft; guard frequency; every transmitter and backup site. Pilot entered 110 MEA at 100. Eventually contacted pilot on adjacent frequency and climbed to 110. Recommend issuing lost communications and climb instructions prior knowing losing communications; except I did not know I was going to lose communications.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A ZDV Controller described a below MEA event when a pilot failed to respond to a climb clearance because radio difficulties. The reporter noted a loss com clearance would have prevented the event but radio failure is totally unpredictable.

Narrative: A PA34 departed BDG and was IFR to GUP via E91. MEA between BDG and E91 is 100 and MEA between E91 and GUP is 110. Pilot was advised he needed to climb to 110 at E91. Loss of communication [occurred] prior to E91. I made every attempt to contact pilot via relay through another airborne aircraft; guard frequency; every transmitter and backup site. Pilot entered 110 MEA at 100. Eventually contacted pilot on adjacent frequency and climbed to 110. Recommend issuing lost communications and climb instructions prior knowing losing communications; except I did not know I was going to lose communications.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

Attributes
ACN	993566
Time
Date	201202
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZDV.ARTCC
State Reference	CO
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-34-200 Seneca I
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A ZDV controller described a below MEA event when a pilot failed to respond to a climb clearance because radio difficulties. The reporter noted a loss com clearance would have prevented the event but radio failure is totally unpredictable.