FLC EXPERIENCED TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND EXECUTED AN OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG.

Narrative

FLYING S AT 500 FT MSL AT 110 KTS. LOST TOTAL ELECTRICAL PWR IN A AS-350-B2 HELI. MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG IN A LARGE; OPEN FIELD ON KEY LARGO. THE GENERATOR HAD FAILED; BUT THE GENERATOR LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. FIRST INDICATION THE ELECTRIC CLOCK SHOWED 0:00 AND THE WOLFSBURG RADIO FAILED. WITH THE RADIO EQUIP WE CARRY ON BOARD; WE HAVE ABOUT 10 MIN DURING DAY TIME FLT WHEN THE GENERATOR FAILS TO BATTERY DEPLETION. THE ANNUNCIATOR WARNING PANEL NEEDS A BACK UP BATTERY SYS AND A HORN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED HE WAS A GOVT EMPLOYEE FLYING A GOVT HELI; AEROSPATIAL 350 ASTAR. THE ENG WILL RUN WITHOUT ELECTRICAL BUT THE ENG INDICATIONS LIKE ROTOR RPM WILL QUIT WHEN THE ELECTRICAL PWR IS LOST. THIS HELI IS ESPECIALLY FITTED FOR THE CUSTOMS MISSION WITH ADDITIONAL THAN NORMAL RADIOS AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES THAT REDUCE THE BATTERY LIFE TO ABOUT 12 MIN DAY AND 5 MIN NIGHT WHEN THE GENERATOR FAILS. NORMALLY; THE BATTERY LIFE WOULD BE ABOUT 50 MIN DAY AND 20 MIN NIGHT. THE GENERATOR IS A STARTER GENERATOR. THAT IS; THE GENERATOR FUNCTIONS AS THE ENG STARTER MOTOR UNTIL THE JET ENG IS UP TO SPD AND THEN THE STARTER MOTOR BECOMES A GENERATOR.