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Failure of alternator in small aircraft caused radio communication and other electrical components to have to be operated minimally on battery. Pilot continued IFR flight plan landing at irk.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 185592 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199108 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : cid airport : irk |
| State Reference | IA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zau |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear |
| Flight Phase | cruise other landing other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 67 flight time total : 676 flight time type : 250 |
| ASRS Report | 185592 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other other : unspecified cockpit |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation other |
Narrative:
The alternator in the small aircraft failed in cruise flight. I informed chicago center and attempted to reset the alternator with the master switch but the alternator did not come back on line. Using 1 radio, I informed chicago center of our intention to complete our clearance to kirksville (due to the presence of repair facilities and runway lengths) using pilotage and provided time estimates for crossing otm and irk vortacs. Chicago center coordinated with kansas city center who contacted as I approached irk VORTAC. IFR was cancelled with the airport in sight (it was not cancelled earlier in order to preserve search and rescue protection for the flight), and a no flap landing was made without incident at kirksville. The no flap landing was chosen because the flaps are electric and I didn't want to risk having to raise them should a go around be necessary.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FAILURE OF ALTERNATOR IN SMA CAUSED RADIO COM AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO HAVE TO BE OPERATED MINIMALLY ON BATTERY. PLT CONTINUED IFR FLT PLAN LNDG AT IRK.
Narrative: THE ALTERNATOR IN THE SMA FAILED IN CRUISE FLT. I INFORMED CHICAGO CENTER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESET THE ALTERNATOR WITH THE MASTER SWITCH BUT THE ALTERNATOR DID NOT COME BACK ON LINE. USING 1 RADIO, I INFORMED CHICAGO CENTER OF OUR INTENTION TO COMPLETE OUR CLRNC TO KIRKSVILLE (DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF REPAIR FACILITIES AND RWY LENGTHS) USING PILOTAGE AND PROVIDED TIME ESTIMATES FOR XING OTM AND IRK VORTACS. CHICAGO CENTER COORDINATED WITH KANSAS CITY CENTER WHO CONTACTED AS I APCHED IRK VORTAC. IFR WAS CANCELLED WITH THE ARPT IN SIGHT (IT WAS NOT CANCELLED EARLIER IN ORDER TO PRESERVE SEARCH AND RESCUE PROTECTION FOR THE FLT), AND A NO FLAP LNDG WAS MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT AT KIRKSVILLE. THE NO FLAP LNDG WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE THE FLAPS ARE ELECTRIC AND I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK HAVING TO RAISE THEM SHOULD A GAR BE NECESSARY.
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.