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TB9 pilot experiences alternator failure due to a tripped circuit breaker. It was thought that the circuit breaker was over heated due to the aircraft sitting in the sun and would remain set after cooling; which after intermittent periods of lost comm; it did.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1021491 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201207 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | PHL.Airport |
| State Reference | PA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Tampico TB-9 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | AC Generator/Alternator |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 19 Flight Crew Total 336 Flight Crew Type 201 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
Immediately after departing phl noticed that the alternator was not working. With climb established verified that the alternator circuit breaker (circuit breaker) had popped; likely because it was heat soaked from being parked in the sun all day. On resetting; the circuit breaker popped within 15 seconds. Turned off all non-essential equipment and directed cooling air to circuit breaker. [I] continued trying the breaker every few minutes with longer and longer durations until it finally reset. [I] was in communications with departure when I was approaching the abe class C. I expected a hand off by this time and contacted departure with no answer. Switched to abe and they indicated that ATC had been trying to reach me. Apparently; my comm transmit/receive power levels dropped enough on battery with the intermittent alternator that I didn't receive radio calls. I suffered from a bit of get-home-itis; but I honestly believed I understood the problem and that it would resolve. And while it did; I under-estimated how long it would take to resolve. I did not consider that I would lose comm with ATC; perhaps while in class B airspace. I should have at least advised ATC of the situation so they had the same information I did.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: TB9 pilot experiences alternator failure due to a tripped circuit breaker. It was thought that the circuit breaker was over heated due to the aircraft sitting in the sun and would remain set after cooling; which after intermittent periods of lost comm; it did.
Narrative: Immediately after departing PHL noticed that the alternator was not working. With climb established verified that the alternator Circuit Breaker (CB) had popped; likely because it was heat soaked from being parked in the sun all day. On resetting; the CB popped within 15 seconds. Turned off all non-essential equipment and directed cooling air to CB. [I] continued trying the breaker every few minutes with longer and longer durations until it finally reset. [I] was in communications with Departure when I was approaching the ABE Class C. I expected a hand off by this time and contacted Departure with no answer. Switched to ABE and they indicated that ATC had been trying to reach me. Apparently; my comm transmit/receive power levels dropped enough on battery with the intermittent alternator that I didn't receive radio calls. I suffered from a bit of get-home-itis; but I honestly believed I understood the problem and that it would resolve. And while it did; I under-estimated how long it would take to resolve. I did not consider that I would lose comm with ATC; perhaps while in Class B airspace. I should have at least advised ATC of the situation so they had the same information I did.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.