Narrative:

On friday, may 1990, I received a WX briefing at xa:30 EDT and filed a flight plan from 3b2 to rdu IFR at FL220. I received my clearance by telephone at xc:00 with ok to depart VFR. It was clear at 3b2 and turned out to be clear for the entire trip with visibilities unlimited and no clouds. I was talking to ny center or washington center when my alternator light activated and I reported same to center. They asked my intention and I responded that I planned to continue to rdu. I carry a back up emergency battery. While talking to norfolk, va, approach control, I los communications. I had previously lost altitude reporting on the transponder and was asked to turn off the mode C. Referring to my AOPA handbook, I set the transponder to 7700 for one min and then 7600 when the entire electrical system failed over norfolk, VOR. I turned off the battery switch and alternator and checked to see that all electrical appliances, except one radio, were turned off. I continued to franklin VOR at FL220, then started my descent for rdu. At 8500', I turned the battery on and received rdu ATIS and called the tower. They referred my to approach control who cleared my to land and said I could shut down the battery until after landing. I again turned on the battery on clearing the runway and received clearance to taxi to the ramp where we had the alternator replaced. I had a message to call washington center with a telephone number. I called and the person who answered said that I had violated several far's. What I should have done when the alternator light activated was request a descent to 16000' and then cancel IFR so they would not have the extra work load of unknown location and altitude from norfolk VOR to rdu. I will also carry a portable transmitter and receiver on future flts.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA HAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILUE ON IFR FLT IN PCA. USING BACK UP BATTERY PLT ADVISED ATC MAINTAINED ALT AND CONTINUED TO DESCEND WHILE MAKING APPROPRIATE TRANSPONDER CODES FOR RADIO FAILURE.

Narrative: ON FRIDAY, MAY 1990, I RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING AT XA:30 EDT AND FILED A FLT PLAN FROM 3B2 TO RDU IFR AT FL220. I RECEIVED MY CLRNC BY TELEPHONE AT XC:00 WITH OK TO DEPART VFR. IT WAS CLR AT 3B2 AND TURNED OUT TO BE CLR FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP WITH VISIBILITIES UNLIMITED AND NO CLOUDS. I WAS TALKING TO NY CTR OR WASHINGTON CTR WHEN MY ALTERNATOR LIGHT ACTIVATED AND I RPTED SAME TO CTR. THEY ASKED MY INTENTION AND I RESPONDED THAT I PLANNED TO CONTINUE TO RDU. I CARRY A BACK UP EMER BATTERY. WHILE TALKING TO NORFOLK, VA, APCH CTL, I LOS COMS. I HAD PREVIOUSLY LOST ALT RPTING ON THE XPONDER AND WAS ASKED TO TURN OFF THE MODE C. REFERRING TO MY AOPA HANDBOOK, I SET THE XPONDER TO 7700 FOR ONE MIN AND THEN 7600 WHEN THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYS FAILED OVER NORFOLK, VOR. I TURNED OFF THE BATTERY SWITCH AND ALTERNATOR AND CHKED TO SEE THAT ALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, EXCEPT ONE RADIO, WERE TURNED OFF. I CONTINUED TO FRANKLIN VOR AT FL220, THEN STARTED MY DSNT FOR RDU. AT 8500', I TURNED THE BATTERY ON AND RECEIVED RDU ATIS AND CALLED THE TWR. THEY REFERRED MY TO APCH CTL WHO CLRED MY TO LAND AND SAID I COULD SHUT DOWN THE BATTERY UNTIL AFTER LNDG. I AGAIN TURNED ON THE BATTERY ON CLRING THE RWY AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO TAXI TO THE RAMP WHERE WE HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED. I HAD A MESSAGE TO CALL WASHINGTON CTR WITH A TELEPHONE NUMBER. I CALLED AND THE PERSON WHO ANSWERED SAID THAT I HAD VIOLATED SEVERAL FAR'S. WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE WHEN THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT ACTIVATED WAS REQUEST A DSNT TO 16000' AND THEN CANCEL IFR SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE THE EXTRA WORK LOAD OF UNKNOWN LOCATION AND ALT FROM NORFOLK VOR TO RDU. I WILL ALSO CARRY A PORTABLE XMITTER AND RECEIVER ON FUTURE FLTS.

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.