M20P suffers temporary total electrical failure on IFR flight. Power is restored during return to de...

Attributes
ACN	801197
Time
Date	200808
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
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 : 32 flight time total : 1080 flight time type : 322
ASRS Report	801197
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : battery condx wng other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was on an IFR filed flight from ZZZ1 to ZZZ. After getting to 6000 ft (filed) and on course; ZZZ1-ZZZ; I saw the battery flashing on the monitor and the lo/amp flashing. Checked the ammeter. It was discharging 11 amps and showing volts 12V. I have 2 independent 24V batteries. Switched to the second battery and it showed the same. At that moment; I decided to call ATC and get a vector back to ZZZ1. Before I could push the button; I lost all electrical power (no radios). I reversed course 180 degrees and headed back to ZZZ1. Being I was on an IFR flight; I knew I had to somehow contact ATC. I changed my transponder to 7700 declaring an emergency. Picked up ATC and advised them of my situation. They had me identify and assigned me a vector to ZZZ1. I kept switching back and forth between batteries to see if one would come back on. My #2 battery came back on; restoring all electrical power. Returned to ZZZ1 with all radios working. The plane is in the maintenance shop being checked out now (probably alternator?). The reason I'm reporting this is because I declared an emergency (7700) and asked for assistance from ATC. No one asked me to file a report.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20P SUFFERS TEMPORARY TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON IFR FLIGHT. POWER IS RESTORED DURING RETURN TO DEPARTURE AIRPORT.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FILED FLT FROM ZZZ1 TO ZZZ. AFTER GETTING TO 6000 FT (FILED) AND ON COURSE; ZZZ1-ZZZ; I SAW THE BATTERY FLASHING ON THE MONITOR AND THE LO/AMP FLASHING. CHKED THE AMMETER. IT WAS DISCHARGING 11 AMPS AND SHOWING VOLTS 12V. I HAVE 2 INDEPENDENT 24V BATTERIES. SWITCHED TO THE SECOND BATTERY AND IT SHOWED THE SAME. AT THAT MOMENT; I DECIDED TO CALL ATC AND GET A VECTOR BACK TO ZZZ1. BEFORE I COULD PUSH THE BUTTON; I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR (NO RADIOS). I REVERSED COURSE 180 DEGS AND HEADED BACK TO ZZZ1. BEING I WAS ON AN IFR FLT; I KNEW I HAD TO SOMEHOW CONTACT ATC. I CHANGED MY XPONDER TO 7700 DECLARING AN EMER. PICKED UP ATC AND ADVISED THEM OF MY SIT. THEY HAD ME IDENT AND ASSIGNED ME A VECTOR TO ZZZ1. I KEPT SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH BTWN BATTERIES TO SEE IF ONE WOULD COME BACK ON. MY #2 BATTERY CAME BACK ON; RESTORING ALL ELECTRICAL PWR. RETURNED TO ZZZ1 WITH ALL RADIOS WORKING. THE PLANE IS IN THE MAINT SHOP BEING CHKED OUT NOW (PROBABLY ALTERNATOR?). THE REASON I'M RPTING THIS IS BECAUSE I DECLARED AN EMER (7700) AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM ATC. NO ONE ASKED ME TO FILE A RPT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

M20P suffers temporary total electrical failure on IFR flight. Power is restored during return to departure airport.