Narrative:

I was on advisories from cape approach on a flight from nantucket, ma, to windham, ct. Everything was going fine and uneventful until I called cape to see if he was going to pass me to providence or end service. I was unable to raise cape approach or providence approach. I then saw my 2 navigation radios quit and the transponder and ADF as well. I finally lost all electrical power entirely. I knew the area and I proceeded to destination using my compass. At this time, we don't know what happened, possibly or major short circuit or alternator failure. I don't know how it could have been prevented. I was able to find my destination and I'm very glad it wasn't night and/or IMC. A hand held radio will be in my future.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE ON FLT FOLLOWING.

Narrative: I WAS ON ADVISORIES FROM CAPE APCH ON A FLT FROM NANTUCKET, MA, TO WINDHAM, CT. EVERYTHING WAS GOING FINE AND UNEVENTFUL UNTIL I CALLED CAPE TO SEE IF HE WAS GOING TO PASS ME TO PROVIDENCE OR END SVC. I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE CAPE APCH OR PROVIDENCE APCH. I THEN SAW MY 2 NAV RADIOS QUIT AND THE XPONDER AND ADF AS WELL. I FINALLY LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR ENTIRELY. I KNEW THE AREA AND I PROCEEDED TO DEST USING MY COMPASS. AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, POSSIBLY OR MAJOR SHORT CIRCUIT OR ALTERNATOR FAILURE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. I WAS ABLE TO FIND MY DEST AND I'M VERY GLAD IT WASN'T NIGHT AND/OR IMC. A HAND HELD RADIO WILL BE IN MY FUTURE.

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.