Incident Overview
On 23 February 2019, a Beech B200 Super King Air, registration N7779V, operated by a private owner, encountered a total electrical failure during the climb phase of a flight from Saanen (LSGK) to Amsterdam (EHAM). The incident occurred at approximately 14:54 UTC near Flight Level 155, about 12.2 nautical miles northeast of Lausanne Airport (LSGL). The aircraft was not damaged, and both crew members were uninjured.
Flight History
The flight crew, consisting of a pilot-in-command (PIC) and a second pilot without type rating for the Beech B200, planned a private flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). After engine start, take-off was delayed by about 30 minutes due to air traffic control restrictions. The engines were restarted from memory without a checklist. Take-off occurred at 14:44 UTC under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), with an intended transition to IFR during climb. The flight crew contacted ATC at 14:53:17 UTC, reporting passing FL 150 and cleared to climb to FL 240 towards the PENDU waypoint.
Actions After Electrical Failure
Shortly after, all cockpit displays went blank, correctly identified as a total electrical failure. Only the Standby Attitude Module (SAM) remained operational. Due to good weather, the crew decided to divert to Lausanne, a non-towered airport. At 14:54:18 UTC, the aircraft's transponder stopped transmitting, and radio contact was lost. The PIC used a private radio to announce the failure on 121.5 MHz at 15:00:03 UTC. The crew used three iPads for navigation and charts. The landing gear was extended per emergency checklist, and the aircraft landed uneventfully at Lausanne at 15:05 UTC.
Technical Findings
After landing, the PIC noticed the left ignition and engine start switch was in the ON position, contrary to the required OFF position after engine start. The battery was recharged with a ground power unit, and both engines started successfully with no anomalies. Subsequent tests by a maintenance company found no aircraft system or avionics anomalies, though the battery failed prescribed tests and was replaced.
Weather Conditions
Switzerland was under a high-pressure system. The nearest METAR from Geneva Airport at 14:50 UTC reported CAVOK conditions with wind from 040 degrees at 6 knots, temperature 10°C, dew point 2°C, and QNH 1030 hPa.
Additional Information
The aircraft was not equipped with a mandatory flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder. The investigation used reports from the PIC, the owner, and air traffic control records.