History of the Flight
The aircraft, a Beech F33 Bonanza registered G-BGSW, departed Blackbushe Airport at 1108 UTC on 19 October 2004, with the pilot and one passenger on board. The intended destination was Bournemouth. After establishing an easterly heading and contacting Farnborough Radar, the aircraft experienced a total loss of electrical power. The pilot turned north to avoid controlled airspace and checked the aircraft systems. No electrical power was evident except for a partial carrier wave on the COM 2 channel. Using a mobile telephone, the pilot contacted Blackbushe Airport to advise of the intention to continue north to Wellesbourne Mountford, an airfield familiar to him.
Weather conditions deteriorated, with rain and visibility falling below VFR limits. The pilot visually identified Abingdon Airfield and contacted Farnborough ATC via mobile telephone to inform them of the intention to land there. The landing gear was lowered manually with 50 to 60 turns of the hand crank, but the pilot was unable to confirm the gear was fully down and opted for an engine-off landing. The engine was shut down and fuel selected off when over the runway threshold. The aircraft touched down gently, but the landing gear collapsed. The aircraft maintained the runway centreline and came to a safe halt with no fuel spillage and no injuries to the occupants. The battery was disconnected as a precaution.
ATC Communication
Farnborough ATC reported that G-BGSW was routing from Blackbushe to Bournemouth under a limited Radar Information Service. About 3 nm northwest of Blackbushe, communications and radar contact were lost. Enquiries with Blackbushe revealed that the pilot had contacted them via mobile phone, reporting the electrical failure and intention to fly to Wellesbourne Mountford. Blackbushe later relayed that the pilot was in IMC and requesting assistance. The pilot was given the Farnborough ATC telephone number and called them, initially reporting IMC then advising visual contact with an airfield below. The controller identified the airfield as Abingdon, and a request to RAF Benson confirmed a primary radar return orbiting over Abingdon. The pilot reported he would make an emergency landing and subsequently phoned to advise that the aircraft had made a wheels-up landing with all occupants uninjured.
Aircraft Examination
The AAIB contacted the engineering organisation that recovered the aircraft from Abingdon. The aircraft's electrical system, normal landing gear system (electrically operated), and manual gear extension all operated satisfactorily when tested prior to recovery. No further examination of the aircraft has been performed to date; should further relevant information become available, it will be reported in an update to this Bulletin.