BE35 pilot experiences a total electrical failure when the landing gear is extended for landing. The...

Narrative:

I was enroute to the airport for lunch. I contacted the control tower about 8 miles out. After contact at about 5 miles out; I tried to extend the landing gear and found I had a severe electrical failure and the gear would not extend. It also caused the radios to turn off for lack of voltage. I turned south to stay out of the airport's heavy traffic and started to extend the landing gear manually. I was still unable to communicate with the tower. When the landing gear was down and indicated locked by the number of turns on the manual gear extension; I saw to my left a runway that had no visual traffic. I saw no light signal from the tower; and landed as short as possible to exit at the first turnoff to the taxiway. While taxiing into the tower parking area; I was able to hear tower communication tell me I had landed on the wrong runway. I again tried to contact the tower but was unable. I was given a note and telephone number to call the tower. I called the tower and explained my problem to the controller. I told him I put the plane on the nearest runway because of total electrical failure. He told me he just needed a reason for this incident and seemed satisfied with my explanation. After parking the plane; I inspected the engine compartment and found that the alternator belt had come off its pulleys. I replaced the belt and started the engine to recharge the battery. After the battery charged; I returned to my home airport with no further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE35 pilot experiences a total electrical failure when the landing gear is extended for landing. The gear is extended manually and a landing ensues without communicating with the Tower.

Narrative: I was enroute to the airport for lunch. I contacted the Control Tower about 8 miles out. After contact at about 5 miles out; I tried to extend the landing gear and found I had a severe electrical failure and the gear would not extend. It also caused the radios to turn off for lack of voltage. I turned south to stay out of the airport's heavy traffic and started to extend the landing gear manually. I was still unable to communicate with the Tower. When the landing gear was down and indicated locked by the number of turns on the manual gear extension; I saw to my left a runway that had no visual traffic. I saw no light signal from the Tower; and landed as short as possible to exit at the first turnoff to the taxiway. While taxiing into the Tower parking area; I was able to hear Tower communication tell me I had landed on the wrong runway. I again tried to contact the Tower but was unable. I was given a note and telephone number to call the Tower. I called the Tower and explained my problem to the Controller. I told him I put the plane on the nearest runway because of total electrical failure. He told me he just needed a reason for this incident and seemed satisfied with my explanation. After parking the plane; I inspected the engine compartment and found that the alternator belt had come off its pulleys. I replaced the belt and started the engine to recharge the battery. After the battery charged; I returned to my home airport with no further incident.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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	989603
Time
Date	201201
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	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	AC Generator/Alternator
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 38 Flight Crew Total 2860 Flight Crew Type 520
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Landing Without Clearance

BE35 pilot experiences a total electrical failure when the landing gear is extended for landing. The gear is extended manually and a landing ensues without communicating with the tower.