SA600 instructor pilot with student reports electrical failure followed shortly by engine failure. U...

Attributes
ACN	838563
Time
Date	200906
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	VFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Electrical Power
Person 1
Function	Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240 Flight Crew Total 11000 Flight Crew Type 150
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor

Narrative:

During climb out with a student pilot at the controls; we experienced slight perceptible smoke in the cockpit accompanied by a burning electrical odor. I took control of the aircraft; declared an emergency with tower and obtained landing clearance while executing a 180 degree turn back toward the airfield. Shortly thereafter; we experienced an electrical system failure; followed a few seconds later by an engine failure. After considering emergency landing area options; I elected to exercise PIC emergency authority and land on a highway - with only 700 to 800 ft AGL to work with; this seemed the most appropriate course of action. In prioritizing my attention and actions from the point of engine failure to touchdown; and given our low altitude; precarious nature of the emergency landing area; and concern associated with a potential electrical fire; I did not engage in the application of any emergency procedures outside of managing aircraft energy state and flight path. Aside from emergency services activity and media attention; the landing was uneventful and resulted in no injuries or damage to the aircraft or property on the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SA600 instructor pilot with student reports electrical failure followed shortly by engine failure. Unable to make it back to departure airport; reporter elected to land on state highway whereafter no damage or injuries were reported.

Narrative: During climb out with a student pilot at the controls; we experienced slight perceptible smoke in the cockpit accompanied by a burning electrical odor. I took control of the aircraft; declared an emergency with Tower and obtained landing clearance while executing a 180 degree turn back toward the airfield. Shortly thereafter; we experienced an electrical system failure; followed a few seconds later by an engine failure. After considering emergency landing area options; I elected to exercise PIC emergency authority and land on a highway - with only 700 to 800 FT AGL to work with; this seemed the most appropriate course of action. In prioritizing my attention and actions from the point of engine failure to touchdown; and given our low altitude; precarious nature of the emergency landing area; and concern associated with a potential electrical fire; I did not engage in the application of any emergency procedures outside of managing aircraft energy state and flight path. Aside from emergency services activity and media attention; the landing was uneventful and resulted in no injuries or damage to the aircraft or property on the ground.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.