An small aircraft in VMC had an electrical and communications failure.

Attributes
ACN	248885
Time
Date	199308
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : csg airport : pim
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : csg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 23 flight time total : 788 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	248885
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On in IFR flight plan from dnn to csg, I noticed that the battery was discharging. I turned off all electrical instruments except 1 radio and the transponder. The battery began charging and after 15-20 mins I checked the battery charge on the stormscope. It had built back up to 10.5 from 6.5. I still only operated the transponder and 1 radio, but I thought the problem was under control. Then upon just having csg in sight, approach could not hear me when I responded 'airport in sight.' the controller asked me to identify if I heard him. I did so, but he had lost my transponder. I did not realize this at first and kept waiting for further instructions. I then squawked 7700 and then 7600, still not realizing that the transponder wasn't working. I also continued to try to call approach. I could not at the moment remember the correct procedure for a communications failure. I decided (incorrectly) that I should not land at csg and headed for pim (an uncontrolled airport). I intended to call columbus approach immediately after landing. However, they were on the phone calling me when I walked into the terminal building. They informed me that I should have watched for light signals from the tower and then landed. I made 3 mistakes: 1) leaving my hand-held radio at home, 2) being rusty on emergency procedures for communication failure, 3) letting the emergency situation cloud my memory of procedures. I am now in the process of studying and reviewing the aim for all emergency procedures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA IN VMC HAD AN ELECTRICAL AND COMS FAILURE.

Narrative: ON IN IFR FLT PLAN FROM DNN TO CSG, I NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGING. I TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL INSTS EXCEPT 1 RADIO AND THE XPONDER. THE BATTERY BEGAN CHARGING AND AFTER 15-20 MINS I CHKED THE BATTERY CHARGE ON THE STORMSCOPE. IT HAD BUILT BACK UP TO 10.5 FROM 6.5. I STILL ONLY OPERATED THE XPONDER AND 1 RADIO, BUT I THOUGHT THE PROB WAS UNDER CTL. THEN UPON JUST HAVING CSG IN SIGHT, APCH COULD NOT HEAR ME WHEN I RESPONDED 'ARPT IN SIGHT.' THE CTLR ASKED ME TO IDENT IF I HEARD HIM. I DID SO, BUT HE HAD LOST MY XPONDER. I DID NOT REALIZE THIS AT FIRST AND KEPT WAITING FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. I THEN SQUAWKED 7700 AND THEN 7600, STILL NOT REALIZING THAT THE XPONDER WASN'T WORKING. I ALSO CONTINUED TO TRY TO CALL APCH. I COULD NOT AT THE MOMENT REMEMBER THE CORRECT PROC FOR A COMS FAILURE. I DECIDED (INCORRECTLY) THAT I SHOULD NOT LAND AT CSG AND HEADED FOR PIM (AN UNCTLED ARPT). I INTENDED TO CALL COLUMBUS APCH IMMEDIATELY AFTER LNDG. HOWEVER, THEY WERE ON THE PHONE CALLING ME WHEN I WALKED INTO THE TERMINAL BUILDING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE WATCHED FOR LIGHT SIGNALS FROM THE TWR AND THEN LANDED. I MADE 3 MISTAKES: 1) LEAVING MY HAND-HELD RADIO AT HOME, 2) BEING RUSTY ON EMER PROCS FOR COM FAILURE, 3) LETTING THE EMER SIT CLOUD MY MEMORY OF PROCS. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF STUDYING AND REVIEWING THE AIM FOR ALL EMER PROCS.

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.