During a night instrument training flight in a small aircraft sel, while holding near the airport, t...

Attributes
ACN	271227
Time
Date	199405
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lit
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing other other other
Route In Use	enroute airway : lit
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 2 flight time total : 3600 flight time type : 2
ASRS Report	271227
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Was giving instrument training to friend. While holding over lit VOR we had a total electrical failure. Training was VFR and pilot was not wearing a hood. Pilot had no idea what to do or how to land (2000 plus hours). I suggested he fly toward the tower which is approximately 3 NM from VOR. Not to cross any runways and to wag his wings to get ATC attention and look for green light. We received a flashing green light so we flew downwind to runway. We received another flashing green light. Due to myself not flying hardly any or instructing within the last 90 days, I could not remember if we needed a flashing green light or steady green. We both thought we received a steady green before turning base leg, but was hard to tell due to haze and late afternoon. We both still could not remember which light we needed. Checking for traffic and not seeing any, we landed. After entering taxiway we looked for additional light signals, but did not see any, so we taxied to FBO. After returning to FBO, I looked in the aim to check on light signals. My lesson: although I was not PIC I still should have reviewed rules, regulations, etc before flying again since it had been a long time and the student is always going to assume the instructor will know what to do (and he should).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING A NIGHT INST TRAINING FLT IN A SMA SEL, WHILE HOLDING NEAR THE ARPT, TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED. TWR LIGHT SIGNALS WERE USED TO RETURN AND LAND.

Narrative: WAS GIVING INST TRAINING TO FRIEND. WHILE HOLDING OVER LIT VOR WE HAD A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. TRAINING WAS VFR AND PLT WAS NOT WEARING A HOOD. PLT HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO OR HOW TO LAND (2000 PLUS HRS). I SUGGESTED HE FLY TOWARD THE TWR WHICH IS APPROX 3 NM FROM VOR. NOT TO CROSS ANY RWYS AND TO WAG HIS WINGS TO GET ATC ATTN AND LOOK FOR GREEN LIGHT. WE RECEIVED A FLASHING GREEN LIGHT SO WE FLEW DOWNWIND TO RWY. WE RECEIVED ANOTHER FLASHING GREEN LIGHT. DUE TO MYSELF NOT FLYING HARDLY ANY OR INSTRUCTING WITHIN THE LAST 90 DAYS, I COULD NOT REMEMBER IF WE NEEDED A FLASHING GREEN LIGHT OR STEADY GREEN. WE BOTH THOUGHT WE RECEIVED A STEADY GREEN BEFORE TURNING BASE LEG, BUT WAS HARD TO TELL DUE TO HAZE AND LATE AFTERNOON. WE BOTH STILL COULD NOT REMEMBER WHICH LIGHT WE NEEDED. CHKING FOR TFC AND NOT SEEING ANY, WE LANDED. AFTER ENTERING TXWY WE LOOKED FOR ADDITIONAL LIGHT SIGNALS, BUT DID NOT SEE ANY, SO WE TAXIED TO FBO. AFTER RETURNING TO FBO, I LOOKED IN THE AIM TO CHK ON LIGHT SIGNALS. MY LESSON: ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT PIC I STILL SHOULD HAVE REVIEWED RULES, REGS, ETC BEFORE FLYING AGAIN SINCE IT HAD BEEN A LONG TIME AND THE STUDENT IS ALWAYS GOING TO ASSUME THE INSTRUCTOR WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO (AND HE SHOULD).

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.

During a night instrument training flight in a small aircraft sel, while holding near the airport, total electrical failure was experienced. Tower light signals were used to return and land.