Loss of electrical at night. Small aircraft training flight returned to base.

Attributes
ACN	200027
Time
Date	199201
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtn
State Reference	LA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mlu
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot other personnel other
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 280 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	200027
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

*Spi and instructor took off on a night training flight in small aircraft complex aircraft. IFR plan. Proceeded to monroe airport for a series of instrument approachs and touch and go lndgs. On what was to be final approach and upon lowering the gear the aircraft lost all electrical power, communications were lost and gear was partially down. Instructor and spi decided to return to dtn (shreveport, home base) and proceeded to do so in the dark after cycling 7600 and 7700. After cranking down the gear and uneventful landing at dtn they were advised that monroe approach controller was unhappy with their decision to return to dtn. However, there was no later repercussion from ATC and a few nights later they planned another instrument night training flight. Shortly after departure they noticed the ammeter showing discharge. They promptly returned to dtn to avoid a duplication of their previous experience at monroe.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF ELECTRICAL AT NIGHT. SMA TRAINING FLT RETURNED TO BASE.

Narrative: *SPI AND INSTRUCTOR TOOK OFF ON A NIGHT TRAINING FLT IN SMA COMPLEX ACFT. IFR PLAN. PROCEEDED TO MONROE ARPT FOR A SERIES OF INST APCHS AND TOUCH AND GO LNDGS. ON WHAT WAS TO BE FINAL APCH AND UPON LOWERING THE GEAR THE ACFT LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR, COMS WERE LOST AND GEAR WAS PARTIALLY DOWN. INSTRUCTOR AND SPI DECIDED TO RETURN TO DTN (SHREVEPORT, HOME BASE) AND PROCEEDED TO DO SO IN THE DARK AFTER CYCLING 7600 AND 7700. AFTER CRANKING DOWN THE GEAR AND UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT DTN THEY WERE ADVISED THAT MONROE APCH CTLR WAS UNHAPPY WITH THEIR DECISION TO RETURN TO DTN. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO LATER REPERCUSSION FROM ATC AND A FEW NIGHTS LATER THEY PLANNED ANOTHER INST NIGHT TRAINING FLT. SHORTLY AFTER DEP THEY NOTICED THE AMMETER SHOWING DISCHARGE. THEY PROMPTLY RETURNED TO DTN TO AVOID A DUPLICATION OF THEIR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AT MONROE.

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.