PA28 pilot with instructor reports electrical failure during a flight down the hudson river class B ...

Attributes
ACN	921885
Time
Date	201012
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	LGA.Airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	AC Generator/Alternator
Person 1
Function	Trainee Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15 Flight Crew Total 125 Flight Crew Type 1.5
Person 2
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

I was flying southbound through the hudson river class B exclusion at 1;100 ft MSL; between the george washington bridge and the intrepid. The piper warrior that I was flying experienced an electrical failure; which resulted in a loss of transponder output. I did not realize this until a helicopter relayed a request that I contact lga tower. Tuning the radio to lga tower; I was unable to make contact. About this time; the flight instructor mentioned that he could not hear me over the intercom. Further troubleshooting revealed that the ammeter was at 0. Battery power was insufficient to operate the radios; and I was unable to comply with lga's request. I continued southbound out of the class B exclusion to my destination; and the flight instructor I was flying with contacted lga tower via telephone. Lga tower advised that the situation was resolved.lesson learned: pay more attention to ammeter levels. I should have detected this earlier; and would have if I had included the ammeter in my scan. This aircraft was new to me; and the ammeter was not in a position that readily fell into my scan; so I neglected it. Not a mistake I'll make again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 pilot with instructor reports electrical failure during a flight down the Hudson River Class B Exclusion. The reporters are able to clear the area and return to their departure point safely.

Narrative: I was flying southbound through the Hudson River Class B exclusion at 1;100 FT MSL; between the George Washington Bridge and the Intrepid. The Piper Warrior that I was flying experienced an electrical failure; which resulted in a loss of transponder output. I did not realize this until a helicopter relayed a request that I contact LGA Tower. Tuning the radio to LGA Tower; I was unable to make contact. About this time; the Flight Instructor mentioned that he could not hear me over the intercom. Further troubleshooting revealed that the ammeter was at 0. Battery power was insufficient to operate the radios; and I was unable to comply with LGA's request. I continued southbound out of the Class B exclusion to my destination; and the Flight Instructor I was flying with contacted LGA Tower via telephone. LGA Tower advised that the situation was resolved.Lesson learned: pay more attention to ammeter levels. I should have detected this earlier; and would have if I had included the ammeter in my scan. This aircraft was new to me; and the ammeter was not in a position that readily fell into my scan; so I neglected it. Not a mistake I'll make again.

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.

PA28 pilot with instructor reports electrical failure during a flight down the hudson river class B exclusion. The reporters are able to clear the area and return to their departure point safely.