SMA ENTERS CLASS B AIRSPACE WITHOUT CONTACT. FAILED ALTERNATOR.

Narrative

THIS INCIDENT IS INITIALLY TRIGGERED BY THE ALTERNATOR/BATTERY FAILURE ENRTE TO NORWOOD; MA; DURING THE RETURN LEG AT NIGHT FROM A BUSINESS TRIP. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: WITH THE LOSS OF ALTERNATOR; THE FOLLOWING FACTORS LED TO PROBABLE AIRSPACE INTRUSION: 1) LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. 2) UNFAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS DUE TO LACK OF DAYLIGHT. 3) RELATIVELY LOW VISIBILITY ASSOCIATED WITH HAZE AND FOG AT ALTS (APPROX 4-5 MI). 4) PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS; WORRIED ABOUT ARRIVING TSTM CELLS. 5) LOSS OF LNDG VISUAL AIDS; IE; ABILITY TO USE PLT CTLED LIGHTINGS AND LNDG LIGHTS. REALIZATION OF ERROR AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: THE POSSIBLE AIRSPACE INTRUSION WAS REALIZED AFTER MAKING A TURN TO FOLLOW A HWY AND SAW A FAMILIAR LANDMARK (TRAIN STATION) ON PLT'S (MY) SIDE. THE TRAIN STATION IS LOCATED APPROX 10 MI S OF INNER RING OF BOSTON CLASS B AIRSPACE. AS SOON AS I SAW THE TRAIN STATION; I MADE A 180 DEG TURN IMMEDIATELY TO EXIT THE AIRSPACE. PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS: UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES; I WOULD USE NAVAIDS IN ADDITION TO VISUAL AIDS TO ENHANCE THE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ESPECIALLY IN UNFAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE FLOWN AROUND BOSTON AIRSPACE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS ALREADY; THIS IS MY SECOND XCOUNTRY FLT AT NIGHT AROUND BOSTON; THEREFORE; I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LANDMARKS' APPEARANCE IN THE NIGHT. WHILE ENRTE; AFTER I REALIZED THE ALTERNATOR HAD FAILED; I SHUT OFF ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIP EXCEPT INST LIGHTS AND XPONDER TO CONSERVE REMAINING BATTERY PWR. THE REASON FOR TURNING OFF ALL NAVAIDS AND RADIOS IS TO AVOID A POTENTIAL LNDG WITH NO LIGHTS AS A VISUAL CUE; WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. FURTHER MORE; I DSNDED DOWN TO 1800 FT TO STAY BENEATH THE CLASS B VEIL AND FOLLOW HWYS UNTIL I HAVE NORWOOD ARPT IN SIGHT AND BE ABLE TO TURN ON RWY LIGHTS. AT THAT TIME; ALL SURROUNDING ARPTS EXCEPT BOSTON LOGAN (BOS) USE PLT CTLED LIGHTINGS. DESPITE BOS IS A VIABLE ALTERNATE; IT REQUIRES 2-WAY RADIO COM; AND A XPONDER. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPENDING TSTM AND IMC WX. GIVEN THE UNKNOWN REMAINING BATTERY PWR THAT COULD FAIL AT ANY MOMENT CAUSING TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE; A XPONDER THAT MIGHT NOT BE WORKING; AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FLYING INTO IMC; I ELECTED TO PROCEED TO NORWOOD AS PLANNED. UNFORTUNATELY; I FOLLOWED A WRONG HWY AND LED TO THIS POSSIBLE INTRUSION. CORRECTION TO THE SIT: PRIOR TO DEP; I HAD PLANNED TO OBTAIN THE BOSTON VFR TERMINAL CHART; BUT THE PLT SHOP WAS CLOSED BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED AT THE ARPT. IN RETROSPECT; HAD I HAD A VFR TERMINAL CHART AND MORE FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA; THE CHANGES FOR THIS INCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN REDUCED.