2011-07 · NASA ASRS report 960344
Enroute Controller described a loss of separation event when an IFR general aviation aircraft was experiencing yoke difficulties and deviated from the assigned altitude.
Aircraft Y was a departure; RADAR identified and climbed to 5;000. Aircraft X was a departure practicing approaches. Aircraft X was RADAR identified; climbed to 3;000. Aircraft X was cleared which turned him right to the southwest. Aircraft Y was cleared and made a left turn to the north northwest leveled at 5;000; which basically put him head on with Aircraft X; but separated vertically by 2;000 FT. Aircraft Y then said he was having issues with his yolk and requested to return to the departure airport. The R-Side cleared him via left turn heading 270 and descend and maintain 4;000 because he/she didn't have lateral with Aircraft X. Aircraft Y read back the 270 heading and descending to 4;000. Moments later I was working on coordination items and I glanced at the RADAR to see Aircraft Y descending out of 3;800 and descending. I advised the R-Side and Aircraft X was turned to re-establish lateral to a 310 heading. Because this is an Approach Control/terminal area our minimum separation is 3 NM. The Conflict Alert printed 2.9 NM and 600 FT.
I was working the position combined when a departure; Aircraft Y decided he needed to turn around. He said he was having problems with his flight yoke and that it felt loose. He did not feel comfortable flying and I cleared him to his destination on a heading of 270 and descended him to 4;000 FT. Aircraft Y was traffic with Aircraft X who had just departed also wanting to land at the same airport. I had initially turned him to a 270 heading and he was level at 3;000 FT. At this point they were on parallel headings but I didn't have the lateral separation yet so I turned N6708A to more of a 300 or 310 heading to start getting the lateral separation. I moved on to issue a new routing to another aircraft and just finished listening to his read back when my D-Side turned my attention to Aircraft X who had descended through 4;000 and was showing 3;300 in the Data Block. I asked Aircraft Y to verify that he was at 4;000 FT but he said no he was at 3;200 FT. At this point I had 3 miles (this was in an area where we can use 3 miles instead of the normal 5 miles for separation) and told him to just remain at 3;000 FT. I believe at this point was a little confused because he started climbing back up to 4;000 FT. I descended him back down and started getting him set up for an ILS approach. I doubled checked with him to see if he wanted any equipment standing by and if he had any further issues but he said no. If the pilot is feeling uncomfortable but will not declare an emergency consider declaring an emergency for him.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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