ACFT EQUIP PROB; PLT INDUCED.
Synopsis
ACFT EQUIP PROB; PLT INDUCED.
Narrative
ON MAY/TUE/95; ACTING AS PIC AND PNF; I DEPARTED DEADHORSE ARPT ON A SVFR CLRNC. THE WX WAS 500 FT OVCST AND 3 MI; WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. SHORTLY AFTER TKOF; FSS ASKED FOR A RPT ON HT OF THE CEILING. I RESPONDED BUT FSS DID NOT ANSWER. AS I CLRED THE CLASS E SURFACE AREA I CALLED CLR; AGAIN WITH NO RESPONSE. AT THIS POINT I NOTICED NAVS FLAGGED; LOW VOLTAGE AND NO LOAD ON GENERATORS. GENERATOR FAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. I INSTRUCTED MY COPLT TO RETURN TO DEADHORSE ARPT. I SHUT OFF ALL NON ESSENTIAL ELECTRICAL SYS BUT WE SOON LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR; SHOWING ABOUT 10 VOLTS. WE PROCEEDED TO DEADHORSE BY PILOTAGE; LOWERED THE GEAR MANUALLY AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AFTER LNDG WITH THE HELP OF A MECH IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STARTER SWITCHES WERE IN THE 'ON' POS (TAKING THE GENERATORS OFF-LINE AND DEPLETING THE BATTERY). IT APPEARS TO ME THAT PRIOR TO DEP WHEN COMPLETING THE CHKLIST; I PUT ON ALL ANTI-ICING EQUIP AND INADVERTENTLY PUT ON THE STARTER SWITCHES INSTEAD OF THE AUTO-IGNITORS WHICH ARE IN CLOSE PROX. FACTORS WHICH I BELIEVE LED TO THIS OVERSIGHT INCLUDE: PRESSURES FROM RUNNING BEHIND SCHEDULE; PAX WITH NO TICKETS (WHICH PLTS HAVE TO TRACK DOWN); LAST MIN CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF PAX AND LOAD; AND THAT I HAD JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT 1 PAX WAS ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY (SHE WAS HAVING CONTRACTIONS) AND NEEDED TO GET TO OUR ULTIMATE DEST. I FEEL THAT ON OCCASION THERE ARE TOO MANY RESPONSIBILITIES PLACED UPON THE PLTS WHICH HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SAFETY OF FLT; SUCH AS POOR MANIFESTS FROM VILLAGE AGENTS; LEAVING IT UP TO PLTS TO DEAL WITH TICKETS; ETC. IT IS A LESSON TO ME THAT I COULD FIND MYSELF IN THIS SIT IN AN ACFT IN WHICH I AM VERY FAMILIAR. I THINK THAT I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS IF I MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO SEPARATE ALL OUTSIDE DISTRS.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.