A BE33 EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYS FAILURE. THE PLT ELECTED A GEAR UP LNDG WITHOUT A MANUAL EXTENSION ATTEMPT.

Date: 2006-12 · Aircraft: Bonanza 33 · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|ground-event-encounter-gear-up-landing

Synopsis

A BE33 EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYS FAILURE. THE PLT ELECTED A GEAR UP LNDG WITHOUT A MANUAL EXTENSION ATTEMPT.

Narrative

ENRTE IN VFR CONDITIONS AND ON A BEACON CODE WITH ATC; OUR PLANE SUFFERED A PRIMARY ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH I DISCOVERED BY MY NORMAL SCAN OF THE AMMETER AND ENG ANALYZER (WHICH SHOWS BATTERY OUTPUT IN ITS SCROLL). I ACTIVATED THE STANDBY ALTERNATOR AND DECREASED THE LOAD BY TURNING OFF NON-ESSENTIAL EQUIP. I REVIEWED THE EMER CHKLIST AND ADVISED ATC OF THE ELECTRICAL LOSS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; THE STANDBY ALTERNATOR FAILED AS WELL. ALL COM WITH ATC WERE LOST. THE ENG CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. I BEGAN TO CONSIDER LNDG OPTIONS: I WAS OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH ARPTS IN THE VICINITY. SINCE THE ENG WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND IT WAS VFR AT MY DEST; I DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON TO ZZZ1 APPROX 15-20 MINS AWAY; WHERE I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE FIELD. I CONTINUED TO CONSIDER LNDG OPTIONS AND SINCE; WITHOUT PWR; I HAD NO WAY OF CONFIRMING THAT THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND LOCKED AFTER MANUAL EXTENSION; I ELECTED TO PERFORM A GEAR UP LNDG. WITH NO TFC IN THE PATTERN; I SELECTED A GRASS RWY USED BY GLIDERS ADJACENT TO THE PAVED RWY. I CUT PWR ONLY WHEN LNDG WAS ASSURED AND LANDED. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. AN INCIDENT RPT WAS FILED WITH TWR AT XA25. AFTER LNDG; I NOTED THAT I HAD INADVERTENTLY LEFT MY WALLET WITH MY CURRENT PLT AND MEDICAL CERTIFICATES IN IT IN MY LUGGAGE AT ZZZ2 WITH MY HUSBAND. AS A RESULT; I DID NOT HAVE THOSE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR THE FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWED LATER THAT DAY.

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