A C182 pilot reports departing after a voltage regulator change only to have a total electrical syst...

Attributes
ACN	741924
Time
Date	200706
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : zzz.vor
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc tower : isp.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 17500 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	741924
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Maintenance at ZZZ troubleshot electrical system; and after several hours determined a new voltage regulator would fix the problem of battery not charging. On a longer than normal preflight this date prior to flight; a positive charge was specifically noted during taxi; run-up; takeoff; and early cruise flight from ZZZ to ZZZ2. Approximately 15 NM south of ZZZ VOR; ATC asked me to 'recycle' my transponder. I looked at the transponder and noted no light. After checking the ammeter; and noting a discharge; I requested canceling IFR and reported ZZZ3 airport in sight. A total electrical failure followed as the battery was depleted. Using a backup hand held radio on ZZZ3 unicom; I entered the traffic pattern and an uneventful landing followed. Maintenance at ZZZ3 eventually found a broken wire at the connector to the alternator field wire. This wire may have been weakened during the installation of the new voltage regulator and subsequently failed due to the vibrations of start/run-up/taxi/etc. Tested same after repair and proceeded to destination; ZZZ2 uneventfully thank goodness. One electrifying experience a day is enough!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PILOT REPORTS DEPARTING AFTER A VOLTAGE REGULATOR CHANGE ONLY TO HAVE A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE REQUIRING AN EMERGENCY DIVERSION.

Narrative: MAINT AT ZZZ TROUBLESHOT ELECTRICAL SYS; AND AFTER SEVERAL HRS DETERMINED A NEW VOLTAGE REGULATOR WOULD FIX THE PROB OF BATTERY NOT CHARGING. ON A LONGER THAN NORMAL PREFLT THIS DATE PRIOR TO FLT; A POSITIVE CHARGE WAS SPECIFICALLY NOTED DURING TAXI; RUN-UP; TKOF; AND EARLY CRUISE FLT FROM ZZZ TO ZZZ2. APPROX 15 NM S OF ZZZ VOR; ATC ASKED ME TO 'RECYCLE' MY XPONDER. I LOOKED AT THE XPONDER AND NOTED NO LIGHT. AFTER CHKING THE AMMETER; AND NOTING A DISCHARGE; I REQUESTED CANCELING IFR AND RPTED ZZZ3 ARPT IN SIGHT. A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE FOLLOWED AS THE BATTERY WAS DEPLETED. USING A BACKUP HAND HELD RADIO ON ZZZ3 UNICOM; I ENTERED THE TFC PATTERN AND AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG FOLLOWED. MAINT AT ZZZ3 EVENTUALLY FOUND A BROKEN WIRE AT THE CONNECTOR TO THE ALTERNATOR FIELD WIRE. THIS WIRE MAY HAVE BEEN WEAKENED DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED DUE TO THE VIBRATIONS OF START/RUN-UP/TAXI/ETC. TESTED SAME AFTER REPAIR AND PROCEEDED TO DEST; ZZZ2 UNEVENTFULLY THANK GOODNESS. ONE ELECTRIFYING EXPERIENCE A DAY IS ENOUGH!

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.

A C182 pilot reports departing after a voltage regulator change only to have a total electrical system failure requiring an emergency diversion.