An air tour helicopter cuts its operations short and returns to base when the main electrical system...

Attributes
ACN	460209
Time
Date	200001
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ito.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	AS 350 Astar/Ecureuil
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 6200 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	460209
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	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While on an air tour, I experienced a complete electrical failure in an AS350BA. I had 6 passenger on board and the first indication was the clearance delivery player used for backgnd music quit. There were no caution lights illuminated, ie, generator. The next item to fail was the UHF radio and transponder -- all within mins. I then noticed the volt meter dropping rapidly and started shedding electrical consumers. First was the air conditioner and then other non essential items but the voltage had dropped to 12. I then made a 15 min flight with no electrical support. My notification to dispatch was through cell phone to notify tower direction and ETA. Green light given and landing made and passenger offloaded. Tower cleared to maintenance hangars after cell phone call. Landed, and maintenance discovered starter generator failed. No explanation as to lack of caution light for generator. Tower reported no further report needed and a company incident report was filed. Battery had only 12 volts left. Passenger were briefed and all took the next tour flight to finish their visit. The use of the cell phone helped a great deal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIR TOUR HELI CUTS ITS OPS SHORT AND RETURNS TO BASE WHEN THE MAIN ELECTRICAL SYS IS LOST. NO RADIO SIT MADE THIS A NORDO ACFT EXCEPT FOR THE RPTR'S CELL PHONE.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN AIR TOUR, I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN AN AS350BA. I HAD 6 PAX ON BOARD AND THE FIRST INDICATION WAS THE CD PLAYER USED FOR BACKGND MUSIC QUIT. THERE WERE NO CAUTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, IE, GENERATOR. THE NEXT ITEM TO FAIL WAS THE UHF RADIO AND XPONDER -- ALL WITHIN MINS. I THEN NOTICED THE VOLT METER DROPPING RAPIDLY AND STARTED SHEDDING ELECTRICAL CONSUMERS. FIRST WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THEN OTHER NON ESSENTIAL ITEMS BUT THE VOLTAGE HAD DROPPED TO 12. I THEN MADE A 15 MIN FLT WITH NO ELECTRICAL SUPPORT. MY NOTIFICATION TO DISPATCH WAS THROUGH CELL PHONE TO NOTIFY TWR DIRECTION AND ETA. GREEN LIGHT GIVEN AND LNDG MADE AND PAX OFFLOADED. TWR CLRED TO MAINT HANGARS AFTER CELL PHONE CALL. LANDED, AND MAINT DISCOVERED STARTER GENERATOR FAILED. NO EXPLANATION AS TO LACK OF CAUTION LIGHT FOR GENERATOR. TWR RPTED NO FURTHER RPT NEEDED AND A COMPANY INCIDENT RPT WAS FILED. BATTERY HAD ONLY 12 VOLTS LEFT. PAX WERE BRIEFED AND ALL TOOK THE NEXT TOUR FLT TO FINISH THEIR VISIT. THE USE OF THE CELL PHONE HELPED A GREAT DEAL.

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 air tour helicopter cuts its operations short and returns to base when the main electrical system is lost. No radio situation made this a NORDO aircraft except for the reporter's cell phone.