An aircraft, probably a single engine, has generator failure and gets help from ARTCC.

Attributes
ACN	344762
Time
Date	199608
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : onl
State Reference	NE
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	344762
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I notified ZMP of the generator failure and requested vectors to the nearest VFR airport. ZMP asked if I wished to declare an emergency and I did declare emergency. I shut down all electrical system except the KX155 communications radio. After receiving vectors, I naved to the O'neill VOR by hand- held radio. I became established on the outbound VOR heading. The cloud deck was approximately 400 ft thick. Upon reaching the initial approach altitude, I was in VFR conditions. The descent and landing were uneventful. I remained in contact with center until landing. Upon landing, I immediately contacted columbus AFSS and canceled my IFR flight plan. The key to the safe resolution was a thorough WX briefing, including the knowledge of the location of VFR conditions, cooperation of ZMP, use of a hand-held VOR receiver, immediate recognition of the problem, and good fortune. The aircraft was checked at O'neill by an a&P mechanic. VFR conditions existed to the east. The battery was recharged. The problem resolved itself partially on the way back. When the generator was charging, I filed an airborne IFR flight plan, but was at all times in VFR conditions. I landed at ames, ia, short of my destination due to thunderstorms over southeast ia.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACFT, PROBABLY A SINGLE ENG, HAS GENERATOR FAILURE AND GETS HELP FROM ARTCC.

Narrative: I NOTIFIED ZMP OF THE GENERATOR FAILURE AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST VFR ARPT. ZMP ASKED IF I WISHED TO DECLARE AN EMER AND I DID DECLARE EMER. I SHUT DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL SYS EXCEPT THE KX155 COMS RADIO. AFTER RECEIVING VECTORS, I NAVED TO THE O'NEILL VOR BY HAND- HELD RADIO. I BECAME ESTABLISHED ON THE OUTBOUND VOR HDG. THE CLOUD DECK WAS APPROX 400 FT THICK. UPON REACHING THE INITIAL APCH ALT, I WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE DSCNT AND LNDG WERE UNEVENTFUL. I REMAINED IN CONTACT WITH CTR UNTIL LNDG. UPON LNDG, I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED COLUMBUS AFSS AND CANCELED MY IFR FLT PLAN. THE KEY TO THE SAFE RESOLUTION WAS A THOROUGH WX BRIEFING, INCLUDING THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOCATION OF VFR CONDITIONS, COOPERATION OF ZMP, USE OF A HAND-HELD VOR RECEIVER, IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION OF THE PROB, AND GOOD FORTUNE. THE ACFT WAS CHKED AT O'NEILL BY AN A&P MECH. VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED TO THE E. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED. THE PROB RESOLVED ITSELF PARTIALLY ON THE WAY BACK. WHEN THE GENERATOR WAS CHARGING, I FILED AN AIRBORNE IFR FLT PLAN, BUT WAS AT ALL TIMES IN VFR CONDITIONS. I LANDED AT AMES, IA, SHORT OF MY DEST DUE TO TSTMS OVER SE IA.

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.