Aircraft loss of electrical power.

Attributes
ACN	284146
Time
Date	199409
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pgv
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	284146
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While flying from gso to pgv I lost all electrical power approximately 30 mins into a 1 hour flight. After passing rdu I had canceled my IFR flight plan and I turned off all unnecessary equipment. I only left on the transponder. When I was approximately 8 mi from my destination (pgv) I turned on 1 communication radio, I listened on that radio using my headset and transmitted with my handheld radio. When I attempted to lower the gear there wasn't enough power to do that. I used the emergency gear extension switch and could feel the gear extend. I called unicom to ask for visual confirmation as I flew over. I had no lights. The airport deployed the fire trucks and crash crew. They confirmed the appearance of down and locked gear. I circled and made an uneventful landing. I normally fly my own baron, which is in the shop. I rented the arrow from the local FBO. In my plane or one that I am more familiar with I would have detected the power failure much sooner. This would not have changed the outcome significantly I feel because I remained calm, collected my thoughts and remembered to always fly the airplane!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL PWR.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING FROM GSO TO PGV I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR APPROX 30 MINS INTO A 1 HR FLT. AFTER PASSING RDU I HAD CANCELED MY IFR FLT PLAN AND I TURNED OFF ALL UNNECESSARY EQUIP. I ONLY LEFT ON THE XPONDER. WHEN I WAS APPROX 8 MI FROM MY DEST (PGV) I TURNED ON 1 COM RADIO, I LISTENED ON THAT RADIO USING MY HEADSET AND XMITTED WITH MY HANDHELD RADIO. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE GEAR THERE WASN'T ENOUGH PWR TO DO THAT. I USED THE EMER GEAR EXTENSION SWITCH AND COULD FEEL THE GEAR EXTEND. I CALLED UNICOM TO ASK FOR VISUAL CONFIRMATION AS I FLEW OVER. I HAD NO LIGHTS. THE ARPT DEPLOYED THE FIRE TRUCKS AND CRASH CREW. THEY CONFIRMED THE APPEARANCE OF DOWN AND LOCKED GEAR. I CIRCLED AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. I NORMALLY FLY MY OWN BARON, WHICH IS IN THE SHOP. I RENTED THE ARROW FROM THE LCL FBO. IN MY PLANE OR ONE THAT I AM MORE FAMILIAR WITH I WOULD HAVE DETECTED THE PWR FAILURE MUCH SOONER. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME SIGNIFICANTLY I FEEL BECAUSE I REMAINED CALM, COLLECTED MY THOUGHTS AND REMEMBERED TO ALWAYS FLY THE AIRPLANE!

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.