GA small aircraft electrical failure IMC at cruise altitude.

Attributes
ACN	141863
Time
Date	199003
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jyo
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : iad
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 23 flight time total : 3000
ASRS Report	141813
Person 2
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Communications lost. Tried several calls, including calling previous sector control and asking for relay from any other aircraft. Checked ammeter; appeared to be working. Began shutting off radios and LORAN. Announced intentions and set transponder to 7700. When no answers forthcoming, started down. Was descending to armel VOR for try at approach to leesburg. Broke out with good ceiling at 2000'. Nothing operating but DME, so went (9.2 NM) to leesburg. Not enough power to lower wheels. Called for ground check, no answer. Used 'emergency down'--it worked. After on ground leesburg, they told me dulles approach called to see if I was down. I asked if they wanted to talk to me, fixed baseman said no. Replaced alternator and returned home mon.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ELECTRICAL FAILURE IMC AT CRUISE ALT.

Narrative: COMS LOST. TRIED SEVERAL CALLS, INCLUDING CALLING PREVIOUS SECTOR CTL AND ASKING FOR RELAY FROM ANY OTHER ACFT. CHKED AMMETER; APPEARED TO BE WORKING. BEGAN SHUTTING OFF RADIOS AND LORAN. ANNOUNCED INTENTIONS AND SET XPONDER TO 7700. WHEN NO ANSWERS FORTHCOMING, STARTED DOWN. WAS DSNDING TO ARMEL VOR FOR TRY AT APCH TO LEESBURG. BROKE OUT WITH GOOD CEILING AT 2000'. NOTHING OPERATING BUT DME, SO WENT (9.2 NM) TO LEESBURG. NOT ENOUGH PWR TO LOWER WHEELS. CALLED FOR GND CHK, NO ANSWER. USED 'EMER DOWN'--IT WORKED. AFTER ON GND LEESBURG, THEY TOLD ME DULLES APCH CALLED TO SEE IF I WAS DOWN. I ASKED IF THEY WANTED TO TALK TO ME, FIXED BASEMAN SAID NO. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND RETURNED HOME MON.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.