Cessna pilot reports total electrical failure departing on an IFR to VFR on top clearance. Once VFR ...

Narrative:

We departed IFR to VFR on top. Upon entering the shallow low overcast; I had a complete electrical failure. Unable to communicate or use any equipment relying upon electrical power. As I climbed to 'on top;' I concluded that the priority was the safety of the flight by getting into VFR conditions; then; to minimize ATC/traffic conflicts. I stayed below my cleared to altitude to stay out of the more complex airspace filled with departing air carrier's out of sjc. I flew to the edge of the under cast near the east bay hills (fremont area); and circled. I then attempted to call on a cell phone; pao tower and norcal approach. Was unable to reach pao but was successful at reaching norcal. I advised via difficult conditions for hearing or speaking; that we were on an IFR flight plan off of pao and that we had had a complete electrical failure. That I was in VFR conditions and planned to return to pao underneath the IFR conditions for landing. I asked norcal to coordinate and they responded with 'thank you and certainly will advise pao tower.' I flew back under the overcast and received the green light from the tower and landed with no flaps on runway 31 at pao. I called the tower upon taxi back to the tie-down and they asked if there was anything that they could do to help. I thanked them and said that there was nothing; but that we appreciated their assistance to that point; and that we had had a complete electrical failure. A follow-up call was made to ensure that there were no other loose ends that needed dealing with. This report is simply to do just that. The only potential confusion on my part was the uncertainty of who and how to contact the appropriate facility and whether or not to try to fly the 'clearance route' to san jose VORTAC. Needless to say; no navigation equipment was available and the complex airspace was to be avoided if major safety issues (not to mention practical facilitation of air traffic in the area); weren't to be compromised. Was one of those 'what to do' situations that really came down to what was prudent using all means to meet the nature of the emergency successful with the least risk. I believe that I did so.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Cessna pilot reports total electrical failure departing on an IFR to VFR on top clearance. Once VFR reporter elected to remain below cleared altitude and out of Class B airspace. Reporter returned to departure airport after coordinating with ATC on a cell phone and received a green light to land.

Narrative: We departed IFR to VFR on top. Upon entering the shallow low overcast; I had a complete electrical failure. Unable to communicate or use any equipment relying upon electrical power. As I climbed to 'on top;' I concluded that the priority was the safety of the flight by getting into VFR conditions; then; to minimize ATC/traffic conflicts. I stayed below my cleared to altitude to stay out of the more complex airspace filled with departing Air Carrier's out of SJC. I flew to the edge of the under cast near the East Bay Hills (Fremont area); and circled. I then attempted to call on a cell phone; PAO Tower and NorCal Approach. Was unable to reach PAO but was successful at reaching NorCal. I advised via difficult conditions for hearing or speaking; that we were on an IFR flight plan off of PAO and that we had had a complete electrical failure. That I was in VFR conditions and planned to return to PAO underneath the IFR conditions for landing. I asked NorCal to coordinate and they responded with 'thank you and certainly will advise PAO Tower.' I flew back under the overcast and received the green light from the Tower and landed with no flaps on Runway 31 at PAO. I called the Tower upon taxi back to the tie-down and they asked if there was anything that they could do to help. I thanked them and said that there was nothing; but that we appreciated their assistance to that point; and that we had had a complete electrical failure. A follow-up call was made to ensure that there were no other loose ends that needed dealing with. This report is simply to do just that. The only potential confusion on my part was the uncertainty of who and how to contact the appropriate facility and whether or not to try to fly the 'clearance route' to San Jose VORTAC. Needless to say; no navigation equipment was available and the complex airspace was to be avoided if major safety issues (not to mention practical facilitation of air traffic in the area); weren't to be compromised. Was one of those 'what to do' situations that really came down to what was prudent using all means to meet the nature of the emergency successful with the least risk. I believe that I did so.

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.

Attributes
ACN	849964
Time
Date	200908
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	PAO.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cessna Single Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	AC Generation
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150 Flight Crew Total 18000 Flight Crew Type 6000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Cessna pilot reports total electrical failure departing on an IFR to VFR on top clearance. Once VFR reporter elected to remain below cleared altitude and out of class B airspace. Reporter returned to departure airport after coordinating with ATC on a cell phone and received a green light to land.