Small Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80; Flight Crew Total 7000; Flight Crew Type 10
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace
Aircraft; Human Factors; Airspace Structure
On departure from CO12 and initial climb; Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) on number 1 engine went to the redline and oil pressure increased rapidly. The floor of the Class B is 6;000 feet in this area. Due to divided attention troubleshooting the problem; the aircraft momentarily climbed to 6;400 feet. This was corrected within a few seconds and I descended the aircraft below 6;000 feet. The low floor in the sector places the aircraft 800 feet AGL. In addition; a section of the class B is cut out; but not aligned with CO12. This makes landing on Runway 12 too tight due to the base to final turn. In the event of an issue such as the engine issue I experienced; it places the aircraft in an uncomfortably low altitude to deal with inflight emergencies. The airspace cutout around CO12 should be reviewed and aligned with the airport traffic pattern.
Light twin pilot experiences high Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) and high oil pressure on departure from CO12 and enters Class B airspace inadvertently while trouble shooting. He believes the DEN Class B should be redesigned to accommodate pilots of light twins operating from CO12.