PLT OF A C182 PARACHUTE JUMP ACFT LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR JUST PRIOR TO RELEASING JUMPERS RESULTING IN USING A CELLULAR PHONE TO CONTACT TWR FOR POS RPTING. LOST COM DUE TO TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. HOWEVER; RPTR DIVERTED TO AN UNCTLED ARPT BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO HEAR BACK FROM TWR DUE TO ACFT NOISE.
Synopsis
PLT OF A C182 PARACHUTE JUMP ACFT LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR JUST PRIOR TO RELEASING JUMPERS RESULTING IN USING A CELLULAR PHONE TO CONTACT TWR FOR POS RPTING. LOST COM DUE TO TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. HOWEVER; RPTR DIVERTED TO AN UNCTLED ARPT BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO HEAR BACK FROM TWR DUE TO ACFT NOISE.
Narrative
I AM A PLT FOR A PARACHUTE OP. TODAY WE WERE TO MAKE A JUMP; AND I HAD PERSONALLY INFORMED THE SUPVR AT THE TWR OF OUR INTENTIONS. I CONTACTED CLRNC DELIVERY BEFORE ENG START; THEN ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENG. IT WAS VERY SLOW TO TURN OVER; WHICH WAS NOT TYPICAL FOR THIS ACFT; ESPECIALLY SINCE IT HAD JUST BEEN FLOWN IN. THE SECOND ATTEMPT SUCCEEDED AND I CONTACTED TWR FOR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS. WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF AND I RPTED OVER OUR JUMP SITE CLBING TO 2500 FT; AS I HAD TOLD THE SUPVR AND CLRNC DELIVERY THE JUMP WOULD BE MADE FROM 4000 FT. AS I CONTINUED THE CLB TO 4000 FT; I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE TWR WITH A CELLULAR PHONE; BUT WAS UNABLE TO TELL IF THEY COULD HEAR MY INTENTIONS. WE ALSO HAD A 2-WAY RADIO FOR CONTACT WITH GND SUPPORT PERSONNEL; SO I RELAYED THE MESSAGE TO PASS ON TO THE TWR VIA THEIR CELLULAR PHONE. SINCE OUR PLAN WAS TO MAKE THE JUMP; WE PROCEEDED AND I THEN DEPARTED TO AN UNCTLED ARPT. ALTHOUGH I KNOW CELLULAR PHONE USE HAS SAVED MANY PLTS; IT HAD NOT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I WOULD BE COMPLETLY UNABLE TO HEAR IN THE ACFT. I WAS TOLD LATER THAT PERSONNEL IN THE TWR COULD HEAR ME AND UNDERSTOOD MY INTENTIONS; BUT FOR OTHERS WHO MAY BE PLANNING TO USE A PHONE IN AN EMER; A SINGLE ENG AIRPLANE IS A FAR NOISIER ENVIRONMENT THAN WE MAY EXPECT.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.