An small aircraft crew experienced an alternator failure while 'on top.'

Attributes
ACN	260471
Time
Date	199312
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bna
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 525 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	260471
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

IFR trip from dupage, il, to tampa, fl. This is the leg between evansville, in, and macon, GA. After crossing cct VOR, we saw low voltage on the annunciator panel. We realized it would be a short period of time before our battery would wear out. We were VFR on top of a solid overcast layer with icing below. We wanted the airport that had the best radar approach because of the low ceilings. The alternator totally failed and there was not enough power in the battery to use the vors. We did not declare an emergency because we had a handheld. As we descended for approach, we encountered icing. We safely landed in nashville, tn. I feel that crew performance was professional and organized. Please do something that would allow the GA guys/gals to know exactly where the ice is, not only through forecasts but through real-time PIREPS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA CREW EXPERIENCED AN ALTERNATOR FAILURE WHILE 'ON TOP.'

Narrative: IFR TRIP FROM DUPAGE, IL, TO TAMPA, FL. THIS IS THE LEG BTWN EVANSVILLE, IN, AND MACON, GA. AFTER XING CCT VOR, WE SAW LOW VOLTAGE ON THE ANNUNCIATOR PANEL. WE REALIZED IT WOULD BE A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE OUR BATTERY WOULD WEAR OUT. WE WERE VFR ON TOP OF A SOLID OVCST LAYER WITH ICING BELOW. WE WANTED THE ARPT THAT HAD THE BEST RADAR APCH BECAUSE OF THE LOW CEILINGS. THE ALTERNATOR TOTALLY FAILED AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH PWR IN THE BATTERY TO USE THE VORS. WE DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER BECAUSE WE HAD A HANDHELD. AS WE DSNDED FOR APCH, WE ENCOUNTERED ICING. WE SAFELY LANDED IN NASHVILLE, TN. I FEEL THAT CREW PERFORMANCE WAS PROFESSIONAL AND ORGANIZED. PLEASE DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD ALLOW THE GA GUYS/GALS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE ICE IS, NOT ONLY THROUGH FORECASTS BUT THROUGH REAL-TIME PIREPS.

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.