Small transport pilot on ferry flight experiences electrical failure.

Attributes
ACN	176707
Time
Date	199104
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 5600 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	176707
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While ferrying an small transport from ric to rdu, 4500' VFR, I had a complete electrical failure. The failure occurred approximately 50 NM from rdu. I continued toward rdu by dead reckoning and by cycling switches, etc. I regained partial electrical power for approximately 40 seconds. I had the DME and 1 radio. I saw I was 11.5 NM from rdu. I called approach control and explained problem, stating that I would probably lose total electric power before landing. I was told to expect runway 5L, given a vector for a left pattern and to drop to 2500'. I did, then lost power again. I pumped the gear down, looked for traffic and lights, then landed on 5L with no lights or electrical power. Taxied clear and parked the aircraft. Rdu approach control and tower did a great job.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLT ON FERRY FLT EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL FAILURE.

Narrative: WHILE FERRYING AN SMT FROM RIC TO RDU, 4500' VFR, I HAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROX 50 NM FROM RDU. I CONTINUED TOWARD RDU BY DEAD RECKONING AND BY CYCLING SWITCHES, ETC. I REGAINED PARTIAL ELECTRICAL PWR FOR APPROX 40 SECS. I HAD THE DME AND 1 RADIO. I SAW I WAS 11.5 NM FROM RDU. I CALLED APCH CTL AND EXPLAINED PROB, STATING THAT I WOULD PROBABLY LOSE TOTAL ELECTRIC PWR BEFORE LNDG. I WAS TOLD TO EXPECT RWY 5L, GIVEN A VECTOR FOR A LEFT PATTERN AND TO DROP TO 2500'. I DID, THEN LOST PWR AGAIN. I PUMPED THE GEAR DOWN, LOOKED FOR TFC AND LIGHTS, THEN LANDED ON 5L WITH NO LIGHTS OR ELECTRICAL PWR. TAXIED CLR AND PARKED THE ACFT. RDU APCH CTL AND TWR DID A GREAT JOB.

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.