Larry in TN
En-Route
You were not designated as PIC for any part of the flight.Not what I’m saying. I’m still sitting right seat and working radios and being actively involved in the flight, I’m just not designated at “PIC” for that leg. I’m still flying regardless so it seems it should count toward total time.
You were sole manipulator of the controls, for a portion of the flight, and, since you are MEL rated, you can log that sole-manipulator time as PIC per 14 CFR 61.51.
You can log flight time when 14 CFR 61.51 says you can log flight time. Nothing more, nothing less.
There are no provisions in the regulation for logging time when working the radios or being actively involved in the flight.