Cessna 152
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 4.0
Workload; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Human Factors; Weather; Aircraft
I was working the midnight shift. There was a line of weather across the airspace so every aircraft in and out of ZZZ was coming through our airspace which was unusual and every aircraft out of ZZZ1 was deviating. Essentially; anyone coming from or going east was deviating all night. I was working the entire area combined. I had worked Aircraft X about an hour earlier with VFR flight following. They were English Second Language and I had communication issues with them. At that time; I was [working] only our low altitude sectors. I think they called to request flight following on their way out of ZZZ2 and I told them unable because I was too busy. By this time; I had all of the area's sectors and was working multiple deviations in the eastern portion of our airspace. I honestly don't recall them even asking for flight following; I just know someone with a heavy accent requested flight following and I denied it due to the amount of work I had and frequency congestion. Then around XA45Z the Supervisor came down and pointed to someone squawking emergency. I tried calling in the blind to no avail. I then called TRACON and they said they just started talking to the aircraft said that they had an engine failure and asked if I wanted to work it. I said sure; however; the aircraft elected to go over to advisory frequency. I never did talk to the aircraft. All information I have is off of the ADSB and recalling the call sign from earlier flight following. Later; FSS called and said the pilot landed safely. It appeared they departed about 30 minutes later and made it to their destination on just a 1200 code.
A Center Controller reported a VFR aircraft which they were unable to provide traffic advisories for due to workload experienced an engine failure in flight.