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C172 pilot has electrical problems; loses navigation and communication equipment and returns for landing.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 706109 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200608 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : nyg.airport |
| State Reference | VA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : pct.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | approach : traffic pattern |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : private pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 240 flight time type : 220 |
| ASRS Report | 706109 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : departure |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : over voltage light other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist flight crew : landed as precaution |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
About 15 mins into the flight; after climbing to 4000 ft; VMC; I noted the low voltage light was on again. I informed my passenger we were returning to nyg and queried ATC for an immediate clearance to nyg due to a low voltage light. ATC quickly gave me an immediate and direct clearance -- the controller was very professional and asked if there was anything else he could do. I replied negative; but very much appreciated the question. After turning; I began turning everything off that I did not need to save power. Since I was inside the dc ADIZ; I left on the transponder and my #1 radio/GPS. My passenger read me the electrical emergency checklist after I started shedding the electrical load. About this time I noticed the radio was skipping on reception -- cutting in and out while receiving signals. ATC queried if I had changed airports as I had flown 10-20 degrees south of a direct route. I appreciated that he was still helping me out and said I was avoiding a restr area west of the airport. ATC advised I was well clear of the restr area; and cleared me direct nyg; descend to 2000 ft. I read back the instructions; thanked ATC; and complied. At that point; I reported nyg in sight; per ATC instructions; and asked to switch to advisories.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C172 PLT HAS ELECTRICAL PROBS; LOSES NAV AND COM EQUIP AND RETURNS FOR LNDG.
Narrative: ABOUT 15 MINS INTO THE FLT; AFTER CLBING TO 4000 FT; VMC; I NOTED THE LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. I INFORMED MY PAX WE WERE RETURNING TO NYG AND QUERIED ATC FOR AN IMMEDIATE CLRNC TO NYG DUE TO A LOW VOLTAGE LIGHT. ATC QUICKLY GAVE ME AN IMMEDIATE AND DIRECT CLRNC -- THE CTLR WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE HE COULD DO. I REPLIED NEGATIVE; BUT VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THE QUESTION. AFTER TURNING; I BEGAN TURNING EVERYTHING OFF THAT I DID NOT NEED TO SAVE PWR. SINCE I WAS INSIDE THE DC ADIZ; I LEFT ON THE XPONDER AND MY #1 RADIO/GPS. MY PAX READ ME THE ELECTRICAL EMER CHKLIST AFTER I STARTED SHEDDING THE ELECTRICAL LOAD. ABOUT THIS TIME I NOTICED THE RADIO WAS SKIPPING ON RECEPTION -- CUTTING IN AND OUT WHILE RECEIVING SIGNALS. ATC QUERIED IF I HAD CHANGED ARPTS AS I HAD FLOWN 10-20 DEGS S OF A DIRECT RTE. I APPRECIATED THAT HE WAS STILL HELPING ME OUT AND SAID I WAS AVOIDING A RESTR AREA W OF THE ARPT. ATC ADVISED I WAS WELL CLR OF THE RESTR AREA; AND CLRED ME DIRECT NYG; DSND TO 2000 FT. I READ BACK THE INSTRUCTIONS; THANKED ATC; AND COMPLIED. AT THAT POINT; I RPTED NYG IN SIGHT; PER ATC INSTRUCTIONS; AND ASKED TO SWITCH TO ADVISORIES.
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.