AN AIR TOUR HELI CUTS ITS OPS SHORT AND RETURNS TO BASE WHEN THE MAIN ELECTRICAL SYS IS LOST. NO RADIO SIT MADE THIS A NORDO ACFT EXCEPT FOR THE RPTR'S CELL PHONE.

Narrative

WHILE ON AN AIR TOUR; I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN AN AS350BA. I HAD 6 PAX ON BOARD AND THE FIRST INDICATION WAS THE CD PLAYER USED FOR BACKGND MUSIC QUIT. THERE WERE NO CAUTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED; IE; GENERATOR. THE NEXT ITEM TO FAIL WAS THE UHF RADIO AND XPONDER -- ALL WITHIN MINS. I THEN NOTICED THE VOLT METER DROPPING RAPIDLY AND STARTED SHEDDING ELECTRICAL CONSUMERS. FIRST WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THEN OTHER NON ESSENTIAL ITEMS BUT THE VOLTAGE HAD DROPPED TO 12. I THEN MADE A 15 MIN FLT WITH NO ELECTRICAL SUPPORT. MY NOTIFICATION TO DISPATCH WAS THROUGH CELL PHONE TO NOTIFY TWR DIRECTION AND ETA. GREEN LIGHT GIVEN AND LNDG MADE AND PAX OFFLOADED. TWR CLRED TO MAINT HANGARS AFTER CELL PHONE CALL. LANDED; AND MAINT DISCOVERED STARTER GENERATOR FAILED. NO EXPLANATION AS TO LACK OF CAUTION LIGHT FOR GENERATOR. TWR RPTED NO FURTHER RPT NEEDED AND A COMPANY INCIDENT RPT WAS FILED. BATTERY HAD ONLY 12 VOLTS LEFT. PAX WERE BRIEFED AND ALL TOOK THE NEXT TOUR FLT TO FINISH THEIR VISIT. THE USE OF THE CELL PHONE HELPED A GREAT DEAL.