Small aircraft pilot enroute from the bahamas to fl experiences an electrical failure.

Attributes
ACN	178064
Time
Date	199105
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mia
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zma enroute other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	178064
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
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 other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I departed nassau, bahamas on an IFR plan via BR57V to fll. 30 mins after takeoff I attempted to contact ZMA on 127.00 while at 8000'. Unable to do so, I tried to recontact nassau. Unsuccessful at this, I heard an air carrier flight tell ZMA I was trying to reach them. At this time my low voltage indicator came on and the ammeter display a discharge. Due to strong tailwinds (over 30 KTS), I chose to make a precautionary landing in bimini. Once on the ground, bahamas customs relayed to nassau that I was on the ground there. I checked out the aircraft there for approximately 15 mins and all seemed fine. There was a positive rate of charge. I told customs to inform nassau that I was continuing on my IFR plan and would contact upon reaching altitude. Approximately 20 mi out from bimini, I lost all electrical power except for DME, which stayed for another minute. I squawked 7700 and declared an emergency on 121.5. I proceeded to head on course of 270 degrees, knowing this was the quickest way to land. In approximately another 15 mins, I was over the island of key biscayne. I headed north along the coast until I had fll in sight. I entered right traffic for 9R at 2000' and circled the pattern 4 or 5 times until I received the green light gun to land.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ENROUTE FROM THE BAHAMAS TO FL EXPERIENCES AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE.

Narrative: I DEPARTED NASSAU, BAHAMAS ON AN IFR PLAN VIA BR57V TO FLL. 30 MINS AFTER TKOF I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ZMA ON 127.00 WHILE AT 8000'. UNABLE TO DO SO, I TRIED TO RECONTACT NASSAU. UNSUCCESSFUL AT THIS, I HEARD AN ACR FLT TELL ZMA I WAS TRYING TO REACH THEM. AT THIS TIME MY LOW VOLTAGE INDICATOR CAME ON AND THE AMMETER DISPLAY A DISCHARGE. DUE TO STRONG TAILWINDS (OVER 30 KTS), I CHOSE TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG IN BIMINI. ONCE ON THE GND, BAHAMAS CUSTOMS RELAYED TO NASSAU THAT I WAS ON THE GND THERE. I CHKED OUT THE ACFT THERE FOR APPROX 15 MINS AND ALL SEEMED FINE. THERE WAS A POSITIVE RATE OF CHARGE. I TOLD CUSTOMS TO INFORM NASSAU THAT I WAS CONTINUING ON MY IFR PLAN AND WOULD CONTACT UPON REACHING ALT. APPROX 20 MI OUT FROM BIMINI, I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR EXCEPT FOR DME, WHICH STAYED FOR ANOTHER MINUTE. I SQUAWKED 7700 AND DECLARED AN EMER ON 121.5. I PROCEEDED TO HEAD ON COURSE OF 270 DEGS, KNOWING THIS WAS THE QUICKEST WAY TO LAND. IN APPROX ANOTHER 15 MINS, I WAS OVER THE ISLAND OF KEY BISCAYNE. I HEADED N ALONG THE COAST UNTIL I HAD FLL IN SIGHT. I ENTERED RIGHT TFC FOR 9R AT 2000' AND CIRCLED THE PATTERN 4 OR 5 TIMES UNTIL I RECEIVED THE GREEN LIGHT GUN TO LAND.

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.