An unspecified aircraft, on an IFR flight plan in IMC, lost all electrical power on climb from sjc. ...

Attributes
ACN	426342
Time
Date	199901
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sau
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3800 msl bound upper : 3800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 93 flight time total : 1644 flight time type : 43
ASRS Report	426342
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During climb out, I experienced complete electrical failure while in IMC. I had intercepted the airway to the assigned VOR and was climbing to assigned (7000 ft) altitude. I performed checklist items for electrical failure but did not get back on line. I subsequently tried again with no success. Decided to try when I was near my landing destination. Several communication attempts were tried with a handheld radio, but I was apparently out of range. Because I had no way of navigating to the next VOR or determining my direction eastward, I decided to fly a course ese where I believed, based on my WX briefing, I would encounter VFR conditions within a short time. Because that course was going to take me over higher terrain, I decided to climb to approximately 9000 ft MSL. I had lost the #1 electric altimeter and I did not know what errors existed in the #2. Approximately 20 mins later, I was in VMC, heading toward fat. I tried to get the electrical power back on for landing and was able to do so. In the future, I will monitor both altimeters to be sure they agree.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN UNSPECIFIED ACFT, ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN IMC, LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR ON CLB FROM SJC. PLT CLBED FROM ASSIGNED ALT INTO VMC CONDITIONS. ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT ATC WITH HANDHELD RADIO WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.

Narrative: DURING CLBOUT, I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE IN IMC. I HAD INTERCEPTED THE AIRWAY TO THE ASSIGNED VOR AND WAS CLBING TO ASSIGNED (7000 FT) ALT. I PERFORMED CHKLIST ITEMS FOR ELECTRICAL FAILURE BUT DID NOT GET BACK ON LINE. I SUBSEQUENTLY TRIED AGAIN WITH NO SUCCESS. DECIDED TO TRY WHEN I WAS NEAR MY LNDG DEST. SEVERAL COM ATTEMPTS WERE TRIED WITH A HANDHELD RADIO, BUT I WAS APPARENTLY OUT OF RANGE. BECAUSE I HAD NO WAY OF NAVING TO THE NEXT VOR OR DETERMINING MY DIRECTION EASTWARD, I DECIDED TO FLY A COURSE ESE WHERE I BELIEVED, BASED ON MY WX BRIEFING, I WOULD ENCOUNTER VFR CONDITIONS WITHIN A SHORT TIME. BECAUSE THAT COURSE WAS GOING TO TAKE ME OVER HIGHER TERRAIN, I DECIDED TO CLB TO APPROX 9000 FT MSL. I HAD LOST THE #1 ELECTRIC ALTIMETER AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT ERRORS EXISTED IN THE #2. APPROX 20 MINS LATER, I WAS IN VMC, HDG TOWARD FAT. I TRIED TO GET THE ELECTRICAL PWR BACK ON FOR LNDG AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL MONITOR BOTH ALTIMETERS TO BE SURE THEY AGREE.

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.

An unspecified aircraft, on an IFR flight plan in IMC, lost all electrical power on climb from sjc. Pilot climbed from assigned altitude into VMC conditions. Attempts to contact ATC with handheld radio were unsuccessful.