Enroute controller described a loss of separation event when an IFR general aviation aircraft was ex...

Narrative:

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.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described a loss of separation event when an IFR general aviation aircraft was experiencing yoke difficulties and deviated from the assigned altitude.

Narrative: 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.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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	960344
Time
Date	201107
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Duchess 76
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Duchess 76
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Enroute controller described a loss of separation event when an IFR general aviation aircraft was experiencing yoke difficulties and deviated from the assigned altitude.