Narrative:

Following takeoff from K15; static occurred in the intercom system. The static got worse; then better; then much worse over the next 10-15 mins of the flight. ATC could hear our xmissions and did not complain about radios; however; it became increasingly annoying for crew and passenger. Efforts to re-plug headsets and reset radios did not reduce static. About 20 mins into the flight; the static became so loud it drowned out all possibility of communication and the instruments flashed off and on. ATC was notified that we were having a 'serious electrical issue' that may be affecting our ability to communicate. Due the level of static we could not be sure ATC heard our transmission. A back-up battery powered radio was being prepared for use in the aircraft. ATC responded to our transmission precisely as everything cleared up in the radios. The plane had gotten off-course as the autoplt had been turned off by the electrical surges. The plane was put back on course. ATC was notified that the issue was resolved and ATC acknowledged that the radios were 'loud and clear' and proceeded to our destination (cps) without further incident. Following a stop of about 30 mins at cps; the plane would not start. Subsequent inspection disclosed a burnt-out starter motor. A new starter was installed; the battery was recharged; and the plane was flown to olv without incident. In the future; upon hearing static in the headsets; I will consider other electrical problems and I will have the back-up radio more accessible and prepared for use in an emergency. I also will be more aware of the autoplt releasing control of the airplane during an electrical situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32 PLT RPTS ELECTRICAL PROBS PRECEDED BY LOUD STATIC IN THE HEADSETS; BOTH OF WHICH STOPPED SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

Narrative: FOLLOWING TKOF FROM K15; STATIC OCCURRED IN THE INTERCOM SYS. THE STATIC GOT WORSE; THEN BETTER; THEN MUCH WORSE OVER THE NEXT 10-15 MINS OF THE FLT. ATC COULD HEAR OUR XMISSIONS AND DID NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT RADIOS; HOWEVER; IT BECAME INCREASINGLY ANNOYING FOR CREW AND PAX. EFFORTS TO RE-PLUG HEADSETS AND RESET RADIOS DID NOT REDUCE STATIC. ABOUT 20 MINS INTO THE FLT; THE STATIC BECAME SO LOUD IT DROWNED OUT ALL POSSIBILITY OF COM AND THE INSTS FLASHED OFF AND ON. ATC WAS NOTIFIED THAT WE WERE HAVING A 'SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUE' THAT MAY BE AFFECTING OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE. DUE THE LEVEL OF STATIC WE COULD NOT BE SURE ATC HEARD OUR XMISSION. A BACK-UP BATTERY POWERED RADIO WAS BEING PREPARED FOR USE IN THE ACFT. ATC RESPONDED TO OUR XMISSION PRECISELY AS EVERYTHING CLRED UP IN THE RADIOS. THE PLANE HAD GOTTEN OFF-COURSE AS THE AUTOPLT HAD BEEN TURNED OFF BY THE ELECTRICAL SURGES. THE PLANE WAS PUT BACK ON COURSE. ATC WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED AND ATC ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE RADIOS WERE 'LOUD AND CLR' AND PROCEEDED TO OUR DEST (CPS) WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. FOLLOWING A STOP OF ABOUT 30 MINS AT CPS; THE PLANE WOULD NOT START. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED A BURNT-OUT STARTER MOTOR. A NEW STARTER WAS INSTALLED; THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED; AND THE PLANE WAS FLOWN TO OLV WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN THE FUTURE; UPON HEARING STATIC IN THE HEADSETS; I WILL CONSIDER OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBS AND I WILL HAVE THE BACK-UP RADIO MORE ACCESSIBLE AND PREPARED FOR USE IN AN EMER. I ALSO WILL BE MORE AWARE OF THE AUTOPLT RELEASING CTL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING AN ELECTRICAL SITUATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.