DURING AN IFR FLT; PLT LOST ALL RADIOS AND XPONDER DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE.

Narrative

AT APPROX XA00 HRS LCL; AT ABOUT 10 MI SW OF PSP; AT 14000 FT; AS I WAS ABOUT TO DSND FOR LNDG AT SNA; WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE; AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO ATTEMPT COM WITH ATC ON A HAND HELD RADIO. WITH SOME PRELIMINARY DIFFICULTIES; WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN CONTACTING ONTARIO APCH ON THE HAND HELD; AND CANCELED IFR. WE WERE IMMEDIATELY CLRED TO DSND AND WERE ULTIMATELY CLRED TO LAND AT SNA. THE AMMETER DID NOT REFLECT A DISCHARGE; AND THE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT WARN OF THE IMMINENT FAILURE. BECAUSE OF THE COMPLETE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL PWR; WE WERE WITHOUT A XPONDER; AND PENETRATED CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT A XPONDER. THIS INCIDENT CONFIRMED MY CONTINUED CARRYING OF A HAND HELD RADIO WITH EXTERNAL ANTENNA ADAPTER -- IT MADE THINGS A WHOLE LOT EASIER! THE PROB WAS ULTIMATELY IDENTED AS A FAILED VOLTAGE REGULATOR. UNFORTUNATELY; EVEN THOUGH THIS ACFT IS INSPECTED EVERY 25 HRS (AT THE OIL CHANGES); NO PROB WAS DISCOVERED OR ANTICIPATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE RECOMMENDATION TO OTHER OPERATORS IS TO CARRY A BACK-UP RADIO IF NO BACK-UP PWR SOURCE (SUCH AS A STAND-BY ALTERNATOR AND REGULATOR) IS INSTALLED. AN EXTERNAL ANTENNA CONNECTION IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO ALLOW COM WITH ATC ON THE HAND HELD.