Date: 202111
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZBW.ARTCC, NH
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 2 Eng; Retractable Gear
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZBW
ATC / advisory: Center ZBW
Aircraft component: Aircraft Heating System
Component problem: Malfunctioning; Failed
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Enroute
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Time Pressure
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Equipment Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Detector: Person Flight Crew; Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Weather
Primary problem: Weather

Narrative: Training on Sector X when the CIC told me there was an emergency at [Sector Y] and my pilot skills might be needed. I immediately terminated training and proceeded to Sector Y; where I plugged in with the Radar Controller and offered to assist. The previous sector had coordinated a malfunctioning heater. However; it was quickly apparent that we had a small aircraft that was icing up; at MIA; and could not hold altitude. Over the next 45 minutes; the Radar Controller; CIC; OM; Radar Associate; CWSU meteorologist; and myself worked the aircraft north and west toward lower MIA's and better weather. On several occasions the aircraft entered turns and descents without instruction to do so; and each time the Radar Controller provided simple; pertinent instructions that helped the pilot regain/maintain control of the aircraft. Another Controller team came back and took the airspace and other frequencies; so our team could concentrate solely on assisting the emergency aircraft. The aircraft was below MIA the entire time; and with no obstructions depicted I obtained a sectional chart and spent most of the emergency tracking the aircraft on the chart and calling out obstructions to the Radar Controller; who relayed that information to the pilot. Eventually the aircraft dropped out of communication and radar coverage; so we placed another aircraft on the frequency to act as a relay. Wheeler-Sack Airbase also called several times with position updates; as their radar could see him while ours could not. Eventually we were able to get confirmation that the aircraft had safely landed. We only then discovered that the aircraft was a small aircraft [type X]; not a small aircraft [type Y] as the flight plan indicated.This incident happened because the aircraft flew into icing conditions. Our job was made significantly more difficult by the lack of depicted obstructions on our video maps.An Emergency Obstruction Video Map needs to be created for the facility.




Synopsis: Center Controller reported an aircraft had a heater problem; aircraft was icing up; and could not hold altitude.