PVT PLT OF A SMA SEL CONTINUED TO DEST ARPT IN VMC AFTER LOOSING ALL COMS DUE TO A LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL PWR.

Narrative

I WAS ON AN IFR PLAN (RFD V100 ALO DIRECT EBS) IN SEVERE CLR VMC FOR TRAINING; ON A BUSINESS TRIP WITH A BON V35. SHORTLY AFTER CLBOUT TO 8000 AND LEVELOFF; I BECAME AWARE OF WEAKER RADIO XMISSION AND ALTERED VOLUME. I BECAME ANNOYED BY A LOT OF INTERFERENCE ON THE RADIO AND I SWITCHED RADIOS WITH NO RESOLUTION. SHORTLY AFTER; I OBSERVED THE FLICKERING OF THE LED'S; THEN DARK: I HAD LOST ALL AVIONICS PWR. I RECYCLED THE AVIONICS MASTER AND ENGAGED BACKUP TO NO AVAIL. I PICKED UP THE MANUAL. THE ALTERNATOR WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ON SUGGESTING NO ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTION. I RECYCLED THE BATTERY AND AVIONICS SWITCH ANYWAY. I CHKED FUSES IN DENIAL. I RECYCLED AVIONICS MASTER TO NO AVAIL. I CONSIDERED LNDG: I LOWERED THE GEAR; I NOTED IT MOVED SLOWLY BUT IT DID ENGAGE TO 3 GREEN. THEN 3 GREEN FADED OUT. MY DECISION TO LAND WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A CTLED FIELD DBQ; BUT I WAS UNSURE OF HOW TO PROPERLY ENTER THE AIRSPACE UNDER LOST COM SITS. I CONSIDERED THE POSSIBLE VIOLATION TOO. WE PROCEEDED ON; APPROX 170 NM WITHOUT COM BECAUSE OF THE EXCELLENT VFR ASSURED ACCURATE CONTACT NAV. THE ENG OP NEVER WAS IN DOUBT. THE BEACH MECH AND PLANE OWNER WOULD BE CLOSE TO MY EBS DEST. DURING THAT TIME; WHEN I LOST COM; I WAS IN ZAU CTL AIRSPACE. I MAINTAINED V100 AS CLRED BUT DSNDED OUT OF 8000 TO 4500 TO PROCEED VFR TO DEST. WITH GEAR DEPLOYED; AIRSPD WAS REDUCED TO 115 KTS. ARR WAS 1 HR LATE: THE FLAPS ONLY PARTIALLY DEPLOYED; BUT WE SAFELY ARRIVED. UPON ARR THE FBO TOLD ME TO CALL ALO TWR AND I RESPONDED AND SPOKE TO TWR SUPVR WHO FELT I PROCEEDED ACCEPTABLY; BUT NEEDED TO CHK WITH ZAU WHERE XMISSION WAS LOST. IN RETROSPECT; IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFER IF I LANDED AT THE NEAREST UNCTLED FIELD. SHOULD I HAVE LOST AN ENG; A RESTART WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AN OPTION. (I HAVE LEARNED LATER THAT A JUMP START WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF I FEATHERED THE PROP; BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT AT THE TIME.) REASON FOR FAILURE: OLD BATTERY FAILED TO ACCEPT A CHARGE.