Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
An IFR C130 had a fire warning light in No. 2 Engine. Engine was shut down. I received a hand off and information from Center. Center advised the C130 was assigned a block altitude of 2;500-5;000 MSL. The C130 was cleared direct to the airport and I instructed them to advise if they wanted to land at a closer airport. The route of flight would take the C130 through a 3;500 MVA. I asked the C130 if they could turn to avoid the area or climb. They advised 'they were an emergency and were going direct to the airport'. I issued visual reports of the known obstacles in the area and the C130 advised they had the antenna in sight. To further complicate the issue; I transferred communication to another Sector; whose airspace the airport is located. The C130 could not talk to that Sector because the radios do no function correctly in that area. I believe this has been documented. Fix the radio.
TRACON Controller described a military aircraft emergency event when MVA requirements were compromised and radio communications with the emergency aircraft proved problematic.