Aircraft electrical failure led to a return land.

Attributes
ACN	316514
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bal airport : esn
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 1665 flight time type : 1
ASRS Report	316514
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Progressive electrical failure resulting in total electrical loss. I agreed to act as CFI/ii to pilot of unfamiliar aircraft. Neither of us paid sufficient attention to ammeter until I started suspecting electrical problem, then noted small ammeter discharge. Indicators of electrical problem: unable to receive VOR identify and voice for ott VOR (20 mi distant) at 5000 ft MSL, GS of #1 VOR and localizer of #2 VOR flickering in sync with flashing beacon. When #1 VOR localizer needle showed navigation flag, I 'declared' electrical failure to other occupants, directed pilot to remain VFR and stop climb, selected 7600 on transponder, and attempted to call bwi approach. When no reply, I directed pilot to turn toward bay bridge, position over bay bridge, and spiral down 500-1000 FPM. Intent was to maintain predictable and consistent image on bwi approach primary radar and to avoid shock-cooling engine while remaining VFR. I directed back- seater (also pilot) to communicate our intentions to bwi approach on hand-held radio. This was efficiently performed. At 2000 ft in VFR with home-base easton in sight, pilot agreed to my proposal that we return to easton. Uneventful NORDO landing was completed at esn. Lesson: don't launch into IFR in unfamiliar aircraft until all system check ok!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT ELECTRICAL FAILURE LED TO A RETURN LAND.

Narrative: PROGRESSIVE ELECTRICAL FAILURE RESULTING IN TOTAL ELECTRICAL LOSS. I AGREED TO ACT AS CFI/II TO PLT OF UNFAMILIAR ACFT. NEITHER OF US PAID SUFFICIENT ATTN TO AMMETER UNTIL I STARTED SUSPECTING ELECTRICAL PROB, THEN NOTED SMALL AMMETER DISCHARGE. INDICATORS OF ELECTRICAL PROB: UNABLE TO RECEIVE VOR IDENT AND VOICE FOR OTT VOR (20 MI DISTANT) AT 5000 FT MSL, GS OF #1 VOR AND LOC OF #2 VOR FLICKERING IN SYNC WITH FLASHING BEACON. WHEN #1 VOR LOC NEEDLE SHOWED NAV FLAG, I 'DECLARED' ELECTRICAL FAILURE TO OTHER OCCUPANTS, DIRECTED PLT TO REMAIN VFR AND STOP CLB, SELECTED 7600 ON XPONDER, AND ATTEMPTED TO CALL BWI APCH. WHEN NO REPLY, I DIRECTED PLT TO TURN TOWARD BAY BRIDGE, POS OVER BAY BRIDGE, AND SPIRAL DOWN 500-1000 FPM. INTENT WAS TO MAINTAIN PREDICTABLE AND CONSISTENT IMAGE ON BWI APCH PRIMARY RADAR AND TO AVOID SHOCK-COOLING ENG WHILE REMAINING VFR. I DIRECTED BACK- SEATER (ALSO PLT) TO COMMUNICATE OUR INTENTIONS TO BWI APCH ON HAND-HELD RADIO. THIS WAS EFFICIENTLY PERFORMED. AT 2000 FT IN VFR WITH HOME-BASE EASTON IN SIGHT, PLT AGREED TO MY PROPOSAL THAT WE RETURN TO EASTON. UNEVENTFUL NORDO LNDG WAS COMPLETED AT ESN. LESSON: DON'T LAUNCH INTO IFR IN UNFAMILIAR ACFT UNTIL ALL SYS CHK OK!

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.