Narrative:

While in contact with departure control and after being given an on course vector and cleared to altitude, I lost all radio and navaids. My partner in the aircraft had reported to me earlier problems with voltage regulator and I was prepared to deal with that problem. However, I later learned that someone (perhaps a passenger) had accidentally cut off both alternator switches. When aircraft was stabilized and secured in flight I was able to discover the problem and regained contact with center and navaids. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter had talked with partner the day before flight and got the report on the regulator. Preflight check does not call for checking the alternator switches. Needless to say, it is on his personal checklist now. Aircraft had maintenance work done the day before but does not feel they would deactivate these switches. When problem was solved and in communication with the controller, no comment or request for further information was made. He had advised them of the problem. Had received clearance to turn heading 150 degrees and continued climb to 9000' per flight plan and knew he would be flying out of the WX. Was west/O instruments for about 45 mins. Was able to keep the aircraft under control using basic instruments and the assistance of his passenger reading compass headings. Flight conditions were IMC and turbulence.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOST ALL NAVIGATION AND COM RADIOS PLUS FLT INSTRUMENTS JUST AFTER TKOF IN IMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: WHILE IN CONTACT WITH DEP CTL AND AFTER BEING GIVEN AN ON COURSE VECTOR AND CLRED TO ALT, I LOST ALL RADIO AND NAVAIDS. MY PARTNER IN THE ACFT HAD RPTED TO ME EARLIER PROBS WITH VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND I WAS PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THAT PROB. HOWEVER, I LATER LEARNED THAT SOMEONE (PERHAPS A PAX) HAD ACCIDENTALLY CUT OFF BOTH ALTERNATOR SWITCHES. WHEN ACFT WAS STABILIZED AND SECURED IN FLT I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THE PROB AND REGAINED CONTACT WITH CENTER AND NAVAIDS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR HAD TALKED WITH PARTNER THE DAY BEFORE FLT AND GOT THE RPT ON THE REGULATOR. PREFLT CHK DOES NOT CALL FOR CHKING THE ALTERNATOR SWITCHES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT IS ON HIS PERSONAL CHKLIST NOW. ACFT HAD MAINT WORK DONE THE DAY BEFORE BUT DOES NOT FEEL THEY WOULD DEACTIVATE THESE SWITCHES. WHEN PROB WAS SOLVED AND IN COM WITH THE CTLR, NO COMMENT OR REQUEST FOR FURTHER INFO WAS MADE. HE HAD ADVISED THEM OF THE PROB. HAD RECEIVED CLRNC TO TURN HDG 150 DEGS AND CONTINUED CLB TO 9000' PER FLT PLAN AND KNEW HE WOULD BE FLYING OUT OF THE WX. WAS W/O INSTRUMENTS FOR ABOUT 45 MINS. WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE ACFT UNDER CONTROL USING BASIC INSTRUMENTS AND THE ASSISTANCE OF HIS PAX READING COMPASS HDGS. FLT CONDITIONS WERE IMC AND TURB.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.