In-flight electrical problems.

Attributes
ACN	290016
Time
Date	199411
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lbb
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lbb artcc : zjx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
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 : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	290016
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Approach notified of possible electrical problem as sudden loss of alternator power. Numerous attempts to restore function unsuccessful. At 30 NM from VOR, I notified approach of definite loss of alternator function and specifically requested vectors to lubbock airport. I specifically did not request priority treatment, declare an emergency, or request fire apparatus. Flight and landing with power drain reduced to radio only (no lights) proceeded uneventfully. After rollout, while taxiing on runway, I was met by fire trucks and escorted to FBO. There, I was questioned by fire and FAA personnel. I understood from others that 3 tv stations' cameras had also appeared and left when nothing newsworthy happened. Aircraft 10 days earlier had alternator system work done (new over-voltage relay and broken alternator field lead fixed). 1 hour test flight and prior 2 hours of above flight were totally normal until the failure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT ELECTRICAL PROBS.

Narrative: APCH NOTIFIED OF POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROB AS SUDDEN LOSS OF ALTERNATOR PWR. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE FUNCTION UNSUCCESSFUL. AT 30 NM FROM VOR, I NOTIFIED APCH OF DEFINITE LOSS OF ALTERNATOR FUNCTION AND SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED VECTORS TO LUBBOCK ARPT. I SPECIFICALLY DID NOT REQUEST PRIORITY TREATMENT, DECLARE AN EMER, OR REQUEST FIRE APPARATUS. FLT AND LNDG WITH PWR DRAIN REDUCED TO RADIO ONLY (NO LIGHTS) PROCEEDED UNEVENTFULLY. AFTER ROLLOUT, WHILE TAXIING ON RWY, I WAS MET BY FIRE TRUCKS AND ESCORTED TO FBO. THERE, I WAS QUESTIONED BY FIRE AND FAA PERSONNEL. I UNDERSTOOD FROM OTHERS THAT 3 TV STATIONS' CAMERAS HAD ALSO APPEARED AND LEFT WHEN NOTHING NEWSWORTHY HAPPENED. ACFT 10 DAYS EARLIER HAD ALTERNATOR SYS WORK DONE (NEW OVER-VOLTAGE RELAY AND BROKEN ALTERNATOR FIELD LEAD FIXED). 1 HR TEST FLT AND PRIOR 2 HRS OF ABOVE FLT WERE TOTALLY NORMAL UNTIL THE FAILURE.

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.