Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted
Airspace Structure; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Aircraft
A Cessna 172 checked on to my frequency and I gave him the altimeter as usual. No issues noted. About 5-10 miles later I hear a call. The Cessna 172 [advised he was diverting]. He said he was going to Searchlight Airport. I gave him the airport location; etc. At this sector; we have two different radio sites so at that low altitude we have to switch between radio sites. It was VERY difficult to deliver information to the aircraft; or other aircraft because someone else would cut me off; or vice-versa from the other radio site. I repeatedly made blanket statements of 'all aircraft stand-by' to try to deliver information or get information from the aircraft in distress but was unsuccessful to aircraft on the opposite side of my airspace because of the poor radio coverage. Although we have coped with this for a while; it's during emergencies that it becomes evident that we need good reliable radios with adequate coverage. I recommend we have better radio coverage so that all aircraft can hear each other regardless of position.
A Center Controller reported they had difficulty communicating with an aircraft that lost an engine and was diverting due to poor radio coverage at low altitudes in their sector.