37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Attributes | |
ACN | 240403 |
Time | |
Date | 199305 |
Day | Mon |
Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | atc facility : pvd |
State Reference | RI |
Altitude | msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500 |
Environment | |
Flight Conditions | VMC |
Light | Daylight |
Aircraft 1 | |
Controlling Facilities | tracon : pvd |
Operator | general aviation : personal |
Make Model Name | Small Aircraft |
Flight Phase | cruise other |
Flight Plan | None |
Person 1 | |
Affiliation | Other |
Function | flight crew : single pilot |
Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
Experience | flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 237 flight time type : 22 |
ASRS Report | 240403 |
Person 2 | |
Affiliation | government : faa |
Function | controller : approach |
Qualification | controller : radar |
Events | |
Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical |
Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
Resolutory Action | none taken : unable |
Consequence | Other |
Supplementary | |
Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Air Traffic Incident | other |
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.
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.