C182 PLT HAS TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE COMMENCING APCH TO INT.

2006-09 · NASA ASRS report 710639

Date: 2006-09 · Aircraft: Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG · Phase: approach

Synopsis

C182 PLT HAS TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE COMMENCING APCH TO INT.

Narrative

PROB IN ELECTRICAL SYS WAS NOTED ON PRIOR FLT (ALT LIGHT ON). LOG SAID CHKED 'OK' BY A&P. AT XA00 START IN INT; EVERYTHING CHKED PRIOR TO FLT TO SVH. DEPARTING SVH AT XE00; ALL ELECTRICAL SYS OK AND VOLTMETER READ 28 VOLTS AND INDICATED CHARGE ON TAXI. WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR APCH TO ILS RWY 33; LOST STORM SCOPE; SAW VOLTAGE DROP; CUT OFF ALL UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL DRAIN (PITOT HEAT; LIGHTS). GNS 530 WENT OUT; AUTOPLT WENT OUT. PUNCHED ALTERNATOR RESET. TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRIC PWR; WAITED FOR VOLTS TO BUILD UP; THEN USED #2 RADIO AND VOLTAGE DROPPED WITH NO OUTPUT. I WAS IN VMC WHEN I INTERCEPTED LOC; GOT CLRNC FOR APCH; THEN NO RADIOS. PROCEEDED TO ARPT; CIRCLED TWR FOR GREEN LIGHT. GOT SAME AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT AFTER GAR. TALKED TO TWR AFTERWARDS. WAS TOLD I WAS CLRED IN THE BLIND AND GIVEN GREEN LIGHT. COULD NOT SEE GREEN LIGHT FROM APCH END OF RWY 33 DUE TO LIGHT FROM BEHIND TWR. QUESTION NOW WHETHER I SHOULD HAVE LANDED ON RWYS 33 ASSUMING CLRNC AND GREEN LIGHT. I COULD SEE THAT ALL WAS CLR. I STILL THINK THE CORRECT DECISION WAS MADE. OF COURSE; COULD HAVE FLOWN TO EXX; AN UNCTLED FIELD; BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF RAIN SHOWERS. I HAVE A PORTABLE RADIO AT HOME. I THINK I WILL PUT IT IN MY FLT BAG. A&P WHO CHKED SYS AFTER PREVIOUS RPT WAS PUZZLED OVER FAILURE AND LOSS OF EFFECTIVE BATTERY PWR IN NO MORE THAN 20 MINS. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE CAUSE WAS. IN OVER 20 YRS OF FLYING; THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. WHEN FILING A FLT PLAN; I ALWAYS FIND OUT WHERE THE GOOD WX IS AND MAKE SURE I HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO GET THERE. FROM NOW ON; I WILL ALSO HAVE ANOTHER RADIO IF WX IS OTHER THAN VMC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: MANY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT AS OF THIS DATE; ALMOST 6 WKS LATER; NO DEFINITIVE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE HAS BEEN DISCOVERED. THE ACFT IS RESTR TO DAY VFR FLYING ONLY.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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