Narrative:

Was working and providing OJT. Aircraft X was on frequency at 7;000 ft direct ZZZ. I noticed that we had lost the radar target on the aircraft. First; [I] allowed the developmental to try to reach the aircraft thinking that it was merely a problem of having the pilot reset his transponder. When the pilot did not immediately respond; I keyed the mic and called for the aircraft in the blind. The pilot finally responded; apparently on a backup radio. The radio quality was poor and we often were not able to understand the pilot. I ascertained that the pilot had lost electrical power and wanted a lower altitude to get out of the clouds. I issued 5;000 ft and the pilot reported that he was in VMC; just below the clouds. Communication was difficult; most transmissions were so garbled that only one or two words could be made out. The nearest airport's weather was given to the pilot. I advised the pilot that ZZZ1 might be the best place to land. We lost all communications shortly after reading the weather. Approximately 10 minutes later the aircraft regained electrical power and landed safely. Obviously there isn't much I could do as a controller to keep an aircraft from losing its electrical power. As far as how I might have handled things better; first I think I should have been quicker to advise the pilot of nearby airports that were VFR and suitable for landing. Second; I should have provided the weather to the pilot sooner. I was so concerned with trying to understand the pilot and find out his intentions that I didn't think to have someone get the destination weather for me. Perhaps I should also have been a little more forceful in recommending that the pilot land at a suitable airport with VFR conditions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described a lost RADAR and communication event during an apparent aircraft electrical failure listing several actions that could have been improved.

Narrative: Was working and providing OJT. Aircraft X was on frequency at 7;000 FT direct ZZZ. I noticed that we had lost the RADAR target on the aircraft. First; [I] allowed the developmental to try to reach the aircraft thinking that it was merely a problem of having the pilot reset his transponder. When the pilot did not immediately respond; I keyed the mic and called for the aircraft in the blind. The pilot finally responded; apparently on a backup radio. The radio quality was poor and we often were not able to understand the pilot. I ascertained that the pilot had lost electrical power and wanted a lower altitude to get out of the clouds. I issued 5;000 FT and the pilot reported that he was in VMC; just below the clouds. Communication was difficult; most transmissions were so garbled that only one or two words could be made out. The nearest airport's weather was given to the pilot. I advised the pilot that ZZZ1 might be the best place to land. We lost all communications shortly after reading the weather. Approximately 10 minutes later the aircraft regained electrical power and landed safely. Obviously there isn't much I could do as a Controller to keep an aircraft from losing its electrical power. As far as how I might have handled things better; first I think I should have been quicker to advise the pilot of nearby airports that were VFR and suitable for landing. Second; I should have provided the weather to the pilot sooner. I was so concerned with trying to understand the pilot and find out his intentions that I didn't think to have someone get the destination weather for me. Perhaps I should also have been a little more forceful in recommending that the pilot land at a suitable airport with VFR conditions.

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.