Instructor pilot deviation from normal traffic pattern procedure.

Attributes
ACN	252263
Time
Date	199309
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sky
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 800 agl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 735 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	252263
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I experienced total electrical and radio failure while in VMC on an IFR flight plan from cmh to ptk. I planned a precautionary landing at sky, the nearest airport along my route. While circling the airport to determine the runway in use, the appearance of departing traffic suggested that the runway in use was just changing from runway 27 to runway 9. In the confusion, I inadvertently set up right traffic for runway 9. The correct pattern is left traffic. There was no conflict with other aircraft, to my knowledge. (Once on the ground, I telephoned cleveland FSS to explain my radio problem and cancel my IFR flight plan.) even considering the stress of total electrical failure and no radios, my primary duty is to 'fly the airplane.' this includes flying a correct traffic pattern. As a CFI, I will drill this key behavior in training.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR PLTDEV FROM NORMAL TFC PATTERN PROC.

Narrative: I EXPERIENCED TOTAL ELECTRICAL AND RADIO FAILURE WHILE IN VMC ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM CMH TO PTK. I PLANNED A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT SKY, THE NEAREST ARPT ALONG MY RTE. WHILE CIRCLING THE ARPT TO DETERMINE THE RWY IN USE, THE APPEARANCE OF DEPARTING TFC SUGGESTED THAT THE RWY IN USE WAS JUST CHANGING FROM RWY 27 TO RWY 9. IN THE CONFUSION, I INADVERTENTLY SET UP R TFC FOR RWY 9. THE CORRECT PATTERN IS L TFC. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH OTHER ACFT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. (ONCE ON THE GND, I TELEPHONED CLEVELAND FSS TO EXPLAIN MY RADIO PROB AND CANCEL MY IFR FLT PLAN.) EVEN CONSIDERING THE STRESS OF TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND NO RADIOS, MY PRIMARY DUTY IS TO 'FLY THE AIRPLANE.' THIS INCLUDES FLYING A CORRECT TFC PATTERN. AS A CFI, I WILL DRILL THIS KEY BEHAVIOR IN TRAINING.

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.