BE55 PLT AND PLT PAX HAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON A NIGHT DEP.

Narrative

WE DEPARTED LEX ON AN IFR FLT PLAN TO UMP. CLBED TO 7000 FT ON THE RWY HDG (220 DEGS). JUST AFTER GEAR RETRACTION; WE SUFFERED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. WE CONTINUED THE CLB ON THE RWY HDG WHILE TRYING TO SORT OUT THE PROB. WE LEVELED AT 4500 FT IN VMC WHILE WORKING THE PROB. I RECOMMENDED WE RETURN TO LEX. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT (A CFII-MEI; WHO I WAS SPLITTING TIME WITH) WANTED TO CONTINUE TO UMP. I AGAIN RECOMMENDED A RETURN TO LEX. HE ADVISED THAT HE HAD A GPS (HANDHELD) AND WOULD GET US A HDG. I TURNED THE ACFT TO AN APPROX HDG FOR UMP. AFTER A FEW MORE MINS; WE WERE FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM LEX THAT; NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA; I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT FINDING LEX AGAIN -- AT LEAST WE WERE HEADING FOR FAMILIAR TERRITORY. UPON ARR IN THE UMP AREA; WE MANUALLY EXTENDED THE GEAR. WE TURNED ON THE MASTER JUST TO SEE IF WE WOULD GET A GREEN LIGHT TO CONFIRM THE GEAR DOWN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON! THE OTHER PLT CONTACTED IND APCH TO CANCEL OUR IFR. THE CTLR GAVE HIM A NUMBER TO CALL WHEN WE LANDED. WE LANDED NORMALLY AND THAT ENDED THE INCIDENT. THE PROB WAS CAUSED BY A COMPLETELY MECHANICAL ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT PIC; WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE RETURNED TO LEX. AS IT WAS; THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY WERE VERY GOOD SO I SAW NOTHING UNSAFE ABOUT CONTINUING TO THE DEST.