An small aircraft on an IFR flight plan in VMC had a complete electrical failure except for its hand...

Attributes
ACN	236105
Time
Date	199303
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pvd
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd tower : clt
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 480 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	236105
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach oversight : supervisor
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Pvd approach had just cleared me from 7000 ft to 5000 ft when I noticed the radio led lights start to flicker. I could still hear ATC for the next few mins, but they could not hear me. Then the radios went completely dead. I turned off all electrical equipment and the radios back on, but nothing happened. I squawked 7600 but realized I was getting no reply light so I shut the master off for good. I hooked up my handheld radio and relayed to ATC my situation. They asked if I wanted to cancel IFR. I said yes. Pvd tower cleared me for landing about 10 mi out. I could hear them both they could not hear me until I was really close. After landing, I was escorted by the fire trucks to an FBO where I was instructed to and did call pvd approach supervisor. She said there was no real problem but wanted to know what happened so she could do her report.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN VMC HAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE EXCEPT FOR ITS HANDHELD RADIO.

Narrative: PVD APCH HAD JUST CLRED ME FROM 7000 FT TO 5000 FT WHEN I NOTICED THE RADIO LED LIGHTS START TO FLICKER. I COULD STILL HEAR ATC FOR THE NEXT FEW MINS, BUT THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME. THEN THE RADIOS WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. I TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIP AND THE RADIOS BACK ON, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I SQUAWKED 7600 BUT REALIZED I WAS GETTING NO REPLY LIGHT SO I SHUT THE MASTER OFF FOR GOOD. I HOOKED UP MY HANDHELD RADIO AND RELAYED TO ATC MY SIT. THEY ASKED IF I WANTED TO CANCEL IFR. I SAID YES. PVD TWR CLRED ME FOR LNDG ABOUT 10 MI OUT. I COULD HEAR THEM BOTH THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME UNTIL I WAS REALLY CLOSE. AFTER LNDG, I WAS ESCORTED BY THE FIRE TRUCKS TO AN FBO WHERE I WAS INSTRUCTED TO AND DID CALL PVD APCH SUPVR. SHE SAID THERE WAS NO REAL PROB BUT WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED SO SHE COULD DO HER RPT.

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.

An small aircraft on an IFR flight plan in VMC had a complete electrical failure except for its handheld radio.