A C172 pilot experiences a complete electrical failure while IFR. He used hand held radio to get to ...

Attributes
ACN	626626
Time
Date	200407
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rfd.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rfd.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	626626
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : diverted to another airport
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While on IFR flight plan in IMC, aircraft experienced an electrical failure causing loss of all communication/navigation radios. Immediate action was taken to determine nature of problem. It was evident that there was a loss of alternator current and a drain on the battery. Loss of alternator current was determined only after radio failure, but obviously happened some time prior in flight. Corrective action included contacting rockford approach using a hand held radio and requesting a descent to VMC. This was granted and a landing in visual conditions was made at rfd. Mechanics determined that brushes on the alternator were worn. No air traffic conflict arose from this situation to the best of my knowledge.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT EXPERIENCES A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE IFR. HE USED HAND HELD RADIO TO GET TO VFR CONDITIONS.

Narrative: WHILE ON IFR FLT PLAN IN IMC, ACFT EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF ALL COM/NAV RADIOS. IMMEDIATE ACTION WAS TAKEN TO DETERMINE NATURE OF PROB. IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALTERNATOR CURRENT AND A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY. LOSS OF ALTERNATOR CURRENT WAS DETERMINED ONLY AFTER RADIO FAILURE, BUT OBVIOUSLY HAPPENED SOME TIME PRIOR IN FLT. CORRECTIVE ACTION INCLUDED CONTACTING ROCKFORD APCH USING A HAND HELD RADIO AND REQUESTING A DSCNT TO VMC. THIS WAS GRANTED AND A LNDG IN VISUAL CONDITIONS WAS MADE AT RFD. MECHS DETERMINED THAT BRUSHES ON THE ALTERNATOR WERE WORN. NO AIR TFC CONFLICT AROSE FROM THIS SIT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.

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.

A C172 pilot experiences a complete electrical failure while IFR. He used hand held radio to get to VFR conditions.