A C210 PLT; IN IMC; EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING HIM TO MAKE A EMER LNDG ON A ROAD IN MDT'S AIRSPACE.
Synopsis
A C210 PLT; IN IMC; EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSING HIM TO MAKE A EMER LNDG ON A ROAD IN MDT'S AIRSPACE.
Narrative
ON INST FLT FROM LEW TO HEF AT 8000 FT IN IMC N OF LANCASTER; PA; TALKING TO ALLENTOWN. DETECTED LOSS OF ELECTRICAL PWR THROUGH EDM WARNING AND AMMETER DISCHARGE. RECYCLED ALTERNATOR TWICE WITHOUT SUCCESS. ASKED FOR IMMEDIATE LNDG. ATC HANDED OFF TO HARRISBURG FOR LNDG AND LANCASTER (LRP). SHUT DOWN UNNEEDED ELECTRICAL ITEMS. RECEIVED DSCNT AND VECTORS FOR LRP ILS RWY 8. LOST NAV #1 BEFORE INTERCEPTING LOC. ALSO LOST ELECTRICAL HSI/DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE AT THAT TIME. WITH ATC VECTORS; ATTEMPTED TO SET UP FOR VOR 8 AT LRP BUT LOST #2 RADIO BEFORE ABLE TO EXECUTE THE APCH. NOW ON PARTIAL PANEL WITHOUT COMS. HAD MOUNTAINS AND SEVERE WX TO THE W AND WASHINGTON DC ADIZ TO THE S. DETERMINED BEST OPTION WAS TO FLY SE AND ATTEMPT A GRADUAL LETDOWN. BROKE OUT OF IMC AT CEILING OF 600-700 FT. AFTER APPROX 15 MINS; CONCLUDED THAT WX IN ALL DIRECTIONS WAS WORSE THAN WHERE I WAS AND THAT SEVERE WX WAS APCHING. HAD PLENTY OF FUEL; BUT DECIDED ONLY SAFE OPTION WAS A PRECAUTIONARY OFF AIRFIELD LNDG. SELECTED A NARROW ROAD WITHOUT OBSTRUCTIONS BUT WITH A LNDG AREA OF ABOUT 1000 FT AS THE BEST SITE. FIRST 2 ATTEMPTS TO LAND ABORTED DUE TO AUTOMOBILE TFC IN LNDG AREA. THIRD ATTEMPT; GOT THE ACFT ON THE ROAD BUT; ON ROLLOUT; THE L MAIN GEAR GOT ONTO SOFT SHOULDER. THIS LED TO THE NOSE GEAR ALSO ON THE SOFT SHOULDER. SOON THEREAFTER THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SKIDDED FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD AND CAME TO REST ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. NO INJURIES TO PIC OR PAX BUT REPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO NOSE GEAR; PROP; ENG; AND COWLING.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.