Narrative:

Had battery charged in ponca city, ok, and filed IFR for oma knowing that the generator was not showing charge, but neither discharge with radio on and knowing that WX was VFR and forecasted VFR at destination. Departed ponca city arriving pwe with some indication of deteriorating electrical reserves. Asked minneapolis center for oma WX and they gave me above 12000 and wind southeast. Cancelled IFR, remained on frequency. Within 10 mins minneapolis said approach wanted to talk to me. Called approach and they gave me a right downwind for 14. Told them of my electrical problems and asked them to notify tower for lights. Got the green light on downwind and landed. Lineboy said tower wanted me to call them. Did, and gave them information for their report. Prior to talking to approach I planned on landing at plattsmouth, northeast, south of omaha an uncontrolled field. Installed new battery in omaha and had the generator repaired the next day. Knew I had equipment problems but do not feel there was any risk to life or property. Callback conversation. With reporter revealed the following information: reporter states he had cancelled IFR but remained on center frequency. They knew he flight planned to omaha and coordination with TRACON. Approach cleared for pattern entry and coordination with tower so reporter received lights. Tower required to complete a report so wanted information from pilot. He was to meet another pilot to relay the patient reporter was carrying to the next destination.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA AIR LIFE LINE FLT FILES IFR KNOWING HE HAS GENERATOR PROBLEMS.

Narrative: HAD BATTERY CHARGED IN PONCA CITY, OK, AND FILED IFR FOR OMA KNOWING THAT THE GENERATOR WAS NOT SHOWING CHARGE, BUT NEITHER DISCHARGE WITH RADIO ON AND KNOWING THAT WX WAS VFR AND FORECASTED VFR AT DEST. DEPARTED PONCA CITY ARRIVING PWE WITH SOME INDICATION OF DETERIORATING ELECTRICAL RESERVES. ASKED MINNEAPOLIS CTR FOR OMA WX AND THEY GAVE ME ABOVE 12000 AND WIND SE. CANCELLED IFR, REMAINED ON FREQ. WITHIN 10 MINS MINNEAPOLIS SAID APCH WANTED TO TALK TO ME. CALLED APCH AND THEY GAVE ME A R DOWNWIND FOR 14. TOLD THEM OF MY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND ASKED THEM TO NOTIFY TWR FOR LIGHTS. GOT THE GREEN LIGHT ON DOWNWIND AND LANDED. LINEBOY SAID TWR WANTED ME TO CALL THEM. DID, AND GAVE THEM INFO FOR THEIR RPT. PRIOR TO TALKING TO APCH I PLANNED ON LNDG AT PLATTSMOUTH, NE, S OF OMAHA AN UNCTLED FIELD. INSTALLED NEW BATTERY IN OMAHA AND HAD THE GENERATOR REPAIRED THE NEXT DAY. KNEW I HAD EQUIP PROBLEMS BUT DO NOT FEEL THERE WAS ANY RISK TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION. WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES HE HAD CANCELLED IFR BUT REMAINED ON CTR FREQ. THEY KNEW HE FLT PLANNED TO OMAHA AND COORD WITH TRACON. APCH CLRED FOR PATTERN ENTRY AND COORD WITH TWR SO RPTR RECEIVED LIGHTS. TWR REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A RPT SO WANTED INFO FROM PLT. HE WAS TO MEET ANOTHER PLT TO RELAY THE PATIENT RPTR WAS CARRYING TO THE NEXT DEST.

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.