An small aircraft pilot had a momentary, but complete, failure of his electrical system.

Attributes
ACN	245323
Time
Date	199306
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : n99
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1200 msl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	245323
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departed N99 at approximately XA36 am local to pvc. Reported off of N99 at 1100 ft and initiated retraction of landing gear. The landing gear stopped 1/2 way up due to a complete power outage. The outage lasted about 15 seconds. Power came back on, through no efforts on my part other than checking status of master switch and toggling on and off one time. My first action was to attempt to maintain VFR conditions until all equipment stabilized. I gave 2 position reports to clearance delivery as over the field. I asked that clearance stay with me until equipment cycled to allow for accurate readings. After approximately 3 mins, all instrumentation and electricity performed properly. I requested and was given authorization to complete the flight plan. I landed in provincetown without incident. P.south. I discussed the incident with the mechanic at N99. He suggested that possibly there was a loose connection between the master switch and the battery.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT HAD A MOMENTARY, BUT COMPLETE, FAILURE OF HIS ELECTRICAL SYS.

Narrative: DEPARTED N99 AT APPROX XA36 AM LCL TO PVC. RPTED OFF OF N99 AT 1100 FT AND INITIATED RETRACTION OF LNDG GEAR. THE LNDG GEAR STOPPED 1/2 WAY UP DUE TO A COMPLETE PWR OUTAGE. THE OUTAGE LASTED ABOUT 15 SECONDS. PWR CAME BACK ON, THROUGH NO EFFORTS ON MY PART OTHER THAN CHKING STATUS OF MASTER SWITCH AND TOGGLING ON AND OFF ONE TIME. MY FIRST ACTION WAS TO ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN VFR CONDITIONS UNTIL ALL EQUIP STABILIZED. I GAVE 2 POS RPTS TO CLRNC DELIVERY AS OVER THE FIELD. I ASKED THAT CLRNC STAY WITH ME UNTIL EQUIP CYCLED TO ALLOW FOR ACCURATE READINGS. AFTER APPROX 3 MINS, ALL INSTRUMENTATION AND ELECTRICITY PERFORMED PROPERLY. I REQUESTED AND WAS GIVEN AUTHORIZATION TO COMPLETE THE FLT PLAN. I LANDED IN PROVINCETOWN WITHOUT INCIDENT. P.S. I DISCUSSED THE INCIDENT WITH THE MECH AT N99. HE SUGGESTED THAT POSSIBLY THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION BTWN THE MASTER SWITCH AND THE BATTERY.

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.