PA-34-200 Seneca I
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Procedure
A PA34 departed BDG and was IFR to GUP via E91. MEA between BDG and E91 is 100 and MEA between E91 and GUP is 110. Pilot was advised he needed to climb to 110 at E91. Loss of communication [occurred] prior to E91. I made every attempt to contact pilot via relay through another airborne aircraft; guard frequency; every transmitter and backup site. Pilot entered 110 MEA at 100. Eventually contacted pilot on adjacent frequency and climbed to 110. Recommend issuing lost communications and climb instructions prior knowing losing communications; except I did not know I was going to lose communications.
A ZDV Controller described a below MEA event when a pilot failed to respond to a climb clearance because radio difficulties. The reporter noted a loss com clearance would have prevented the event but radio failure is totally unpredictable.