Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Human Factors; Weather
Air Carrier X called me level at 10;000 FT and reported moderate mixed icing. I asked him the outside air temperature to file a PIREP. I talked to another aircraft and three more aircraft called at once. I heard Air Carrier X request block 140b100; I assigned 100b140. I talked to the other two aircraft and soon after Air Carrier X in a shaken voice; hard to understand; said 'Air Carrier X emergency procedures.' I noticed he was losing altitude so I issued traffic to him as there was a Caravan off his left wing at 5;000 FT he requested 5;000 FT. I issued 6;000 FT for traffic. He asked for a heading; I told him deviation approved as needed. My D-Side was on the line with Approach as this happened on the border between Center and TRACON. The TRACON requested control and communication as he was headed their direction. I asked the pilot what heading he would like he said 300. I assigned 300 and 5;000 FT as traffic was now clear and shipped him to the TRACON. I didn't ask him all the emergency questions as required; as his voice indicated that he was under stress and busy with the aircraft. Looking back I should have verified more information. There was little time and he was already in icing when he called I'm not sure if there was a lot I could have done to prevent it from happening. The aircraft below him at 5;000 FT didn't report any icing.
Enroute Controller described an icing event that resulted in an emergency declaration. The Controller acknowledged that all the required emergency information was not obtained from the pilot.