TOTAL LOSS OF COMMERCIAL PWR CAUSES ALL TWR AND TRACON EQUIP TO FAIL. BACKUP PWR GENERATOR ALSO FAILS WHEN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IS DISCOVERED.

Narrative

ON JAN/FRI/93; AT ABOUT XX00Z; WE EXPERIENCED TOTAL PWR FAILURE IN THE TWR; LOSING ALL EQUIP INCLUDING RADIOS; BRITE SCOPE; FDIO; AND SAIDS. WE CALLED THE TRACON VIA DIRECT LINE AND FOUND THEY ALSO HAD EXPERIENCED TOTAL PWR FAILURE; LOSING ALL RADAR SCOPES AND RADIO FREQS. FOR SOME REASON; THE EMER PWR GENERATOR DID NOT AUTO-START WITH THE LOSS OF COMMERCIAL PWR. AFS WAS CONTACTED BY THE TRACON AND THE GENERATOR WAS STARTED. SOON AFTER THE GENERATOR WAS STARTED (AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINS OF NO PWR) WE SMELLED SOME SORT OF SMOKE/ODOR. THE GENERATOR WAS SHUT DOWN (AS IT APPARENTLY HAD STARTED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AFTER STARTING) AND THE TWR EXPERIENCED A SECOND LOSS OF PWR. IN ABOUT 5-10 MINS; COMMERCIAL PWR WAS RESTORED. IN TALKING WITH OTHER CTLRS ABOUT THIS EVENT (PEOPLE IN THE FACILITY DURING THE EVENT); I REALLY GOT SCARED. LUCKILY; THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS IN SAV'S AIRSPACE DURING THE OUTAGE. IN THE TIME I HAVE BEEN HERE; I KNOW DURING PEAK HRS SOMETHING TERRIBLE COULD HAVE HAPPENED. ADDITIONALLY; WITH THE SMOKE DOWNSTAIRS; THE NEW FIRE ALARM DID NOT ACTIVATE! I DON'T KNOW HAD BAD IT GOT DOWNSTAIRS; BUT WE HAD TO TURN ON THE EXHAUST FAN AND OPEN THE ROOF HATCH IN THE TWR CAB. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE.