TRACON controller described an emergency event involving an aircraft with a rough engine needing to ...

Narrative:

I received a hand off from [center] on a cessna 421 out of 10;000 feet. Center advised me he was an emergency with a 'shaky left engine' and requested the nearest airport; which was ZZZ. I approved 3;000 feet. Center gave him a right turn to; I believe; 110 but the pilot turned left which put him tight to field with a lot of altitude and speed left to burn off. When he checked on; I turned to a 080 head which would set him up for base to a 3 mile final. Out of 5;000 feet; the pilot asked where the field was and I pointed it out to him. I also told him about ZZZ1 airport which is close by so he wouldn't get confused. I advised the pilot of the ceiling and turned him on a 3 mile final and descended him to my MVA. The pilot overshot the final and I had to give another turn back which was good because he was still very fast. He told me had the field in sight and I cleared him for the visual approach and asked the tower if I could clear him to land; which was approved. The aircraft landed very long; on the last third of the runway. I should have asked the pilot if he would rather set for a long final or if he wanted a vector for the field.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACON Controller described an emergency event involving an aircraft with a rough engine needing to land immediately; the reporter's self critique indicated that he should asked more questions regarding final spacing.

Narrative: I received a hand off from [Center] on a Cessna 421 out of 10;000 feet. Center advised me he was an emergency with a 'shaky left engine' and requested the nearest airport; which was ZZZ. I approved 3;000 feet. Center gave him a right turn to; I believe; 110 but the pilot turned left which put him tight to field with a lot of altitude and speed left to burn off. When he checked on; I turned to a 080 head which would set him up for base to a 3 mile final. Out of 5;000 feet; the pilot asked where the field was and I pointed it out to him. I also told him about ZZZ1 airport which is close by so he wouldn't get confused. I advised the pilot of the ceiling and turned him on a 3 mile final and descended him to my MVA. The pilot overshot the final and I had to give another turn back which was good because he was still very fast. He told me had the field in sight and I cleared him for the visual approach and asked the Tower if I could clear him to land; which was approved. The aircraft landed very long; on the last third of the runway. I should have asked the pilot if he would rather set for a long final or if he wanted a vector for the field.

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	1107122
Time
Date	201308
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Golden Eagle 421
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach Departure
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

TRACON controller described an emergency event involving an aircraft with a rough engine needing to land immediately; the reporter's self critique indicated that he should asked more questions regarding final spacing.