Complete electrical failure in a C172 in IFR conditions.

Attributes
ACN	535033
Time
Date	200201
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pvd.airport
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pvd.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 780
ASRS Report	535033
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : voltage indicator other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On IFR flight to pvd, began losing VOR navigation and ultimately radio communication. Discharge and low voltage indicator suggested alternator failure (plane was a rental C172). While I still had radio contact, I opted to continue to pvd. Informed pvd approach of problem. They gave lower altitude to be in VMC. Landed without communication and lights and VOR navigation in pvd. No untoward events occurred. I believe green tower light signal had been given.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN A C172 IN IFR CONDITIONS.

Narrative: ON IFR FLT TO PVD, BEGAN LOSING VOR NAV AND ULTIMATELY RADIO COM. DISCHARGE AND LOW VOLTAGE INDICATOR SUGGESTED ALTERNATOR FAILURE (PLANE WAS A RENTAL C172). WHILE I STILL HAD RADIO CONTACT, I OPTED TO CONTINUE TO PVD. INFORMED PVD APCH OF PROB. THEY GAVE LOWER ALT TO BE IN VMC. LANDED WITHOUT COM AND LIGHTS AND VOR NAV IN PVD. NO UNTOWARD EVENTS OCCURRED. I BELIEVE GREEN TWR LIGHT SIGNAL HAD BEEN GIVEN.

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.