Cessna 310/T310C
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 19; Flight Crew Total 1970; Flight Crew Type 950
Workload; Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
Climbing through 8;000 for 10;000 FT; [I had a] sudden loss of power in right engine followed by strong smell of hot metal. Requested immediate return to the departure airport and was given direct descend to 6;000 FT. Declined to declare emergency; probably should have. [I] became preoccupied with visually acquiring airport through broken ceiling and remaining in VMC; emergency checklist; and making rapid descent for concerns over potential fire. Was at 5;300 FT when realized still on IFR flight plan and cleared only to 6;000 FT. At that time was turned to Approach and cancelled IFR; continued rapid descent; got partial power restored with boost pumps and low power setting but feathered engine on final when died again and landed uneventfully. Problem determined to be failure of engine driven fuel pump. Should have either declared emergency or immediately cancelled IFR when I could see I had good VFR options. Not certain why I didn't declare an emergency; didn't seem that dire at [the] moment; but in retrospect the situation required actions that are clearly from the emergency procedures section of my Owner's Manual. Weather was good VFR; but there was a coastal stratus layer moving over airport at time of departure and it was continuing to move in from west but was remaining broken to scattered.
A T310Q right engine lost power during climb after takeoff so the IFR pilot started a turn toward the departure airport. While enroute the engine quit; so without declaring an emergency he landed safely in an emergency condition.