<< >> NASA ASRS Report 250252, August 1993

Primary electrical supply problem in small aircraft. Uses lost communication procedure in VMC descent to destination airport.

Attributes
ACN	250252
Time
Date	199308
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : glr
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : msp artcc : zob
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	250252
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on IFR flight plan from glr to 5d3 a total electrical failure was experienced. Attempts to reach ZMP to cancel IFR went unanswered. Squawked 7600. The WX ahead was IFR with cumulus clouds topping approximately 12000-13000 ft. Since we were in VFR conditions, I descended to 2500 MSL and continued on to 5d3 in VFR. I called ZMP on the phone after arriving at 5d3 and explained what had happened. They said, 'okay.' I should have been monitoring the ammeter more closely as this would have shown that we were draining the battery. If I would have noticed this sooner, I probably could have contacted someone to cancel the IFR flight plan before the battery was too low to attempt communications.

Related reports:

• Primary electrical supply problem. Small aircraft pilot cont...
• Small aircraft loses electrical power at night including eff...
• GA small aircraft lost electrical power and radio communicat...
• Radio communication problem notwithstanding. Atx pilot conti...
• A BE36 private pilot loses his electrical power and proceeds...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRIMARY ELECTRICAL SUPPLY PROB IN SMA. USES LOST COM PROC IN VMC DSCNT TO DEST ARPT.

Narrative: WHILE ON IFR FLT PLAN FROM GLR TO 5D3 A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED. ATTEMPTS TO REACH ZMP TO CANCEL IFR WENT UNANSWERED. SQUAWKED 7600. THE WX AHEAD WAS IFR WITH CUMULUS CLOUDS TOPPING APPROX 12000-13000 FT. SINCE WE WERE IN VFR CONDITIONS, I DSNDED TO 2500 MSL AND CONTINUED ON TO 5D3 IN VFR. I CALLED ZMP ON THE PHONE AFTER ARRIVING AT 5D3 AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY SAID, 'OKAY.' I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE AMMETER MORE CLOSELY AS THIS WOULD HAVE SHOWN THAT WE WERE DRAINING THE BATTERY. IF I WOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS SOONER, I PROBABLY COULD HAVE CONTACTED SOMEONE TO CANCEL THE IFR FLT PLAN BEFORE THE BATTERY WAS TOO LOW TO ATTEMPT COMS.

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.