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A DA40 pilot reported landing at hnd without seeing a light gun signal after total loss of electrical power.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1322698 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201512 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | HND.Airport |
| State Reference | NV |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | DA40 Diamond Star |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Visual Approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Electrical Power |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 42 Flight Crew Total 316 Flight Crew Type 264 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural Landing Without Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
I was flying a diamond DA40 with a G1000 over the grand canyon at 7;500 feet in VFR conditions when there was a sudden and complete loss of electrical power. I headed the plane to hnd. I flew below the bravo airspace and entered the delta airspace. I had taken off from hnd so I knew that runway 35L was in use. I approached towards the airport tower and did not see any light gun signals from the tower. I scanned the air and saw no other aircraft in the traffic pattern. I knew I had to land quickly; since I did not have working fuel gauges; there was no heat in the plane; and I wanted to get out of the way quickly of any other traffic. For safety; I wanted the longest runway that I could land on; which was runway 35L. I also hoped the tower would see me and warn any other traffic. I saw a jet holding short of runway 35L. I entered the left downwind for 35L at pattern altitude (3;500 feet MSL) and did a short approach to the runway. I did not see any light gun signals. I watched the jet and it appeared to be stationary. Because I did not realize at the time that I did not have flaps; the plane floated over the runway; and I landed on the second half of the runway: I really needed this long runway.I am sorry that I had to enter class delta airspace without communicating; but I did not have working lights or working radio; and I felt that the longest runway was the safest to land on. I did not see any light gun signals.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A DA40 pilot reported landing at HND without seeing a light gun signal after total loss of electrical power.
Narrative: I was flying a Diamond DA40 with a G1000 over the Grand Canyon at 7;500 feet in VFR conditions when there was a sudden and complete loss of electrical power. I headed the plane to HND. I flew below the Bravo airspace and entered the Delta airspace. I had taken off from HND so I knew that runway 35L was in use. I approached towards the airport tower and did not see any light gun signals from the Tower. I scanned the air and saw no other aircraft in the traffic pattern. I knew I had to land quickly; since I did not have working fuel gauges; there was no heat in the plane; and I wanted to get out of the way quickly of any other traffic. For safety; I wanted the longest runway that I could land on; which was Runway 35L. I also hoped the tower would see me and warn any other traffic. I saw a jet holding short of Runway 35L. I entered the left downwind for 35L at pattern altitude (3;500 feet MSL) and did a short approach to the runway. I did not see any light gun signals. I watched the jet and it appeared to be stationary. Because I did not realize at the time that I did not have flaps; the plane floated over the runway; and I landed on the second half of the runway: I really needed this long runway.I am sorry that I had to enter class Delta airspace without communicating; but I did not have working lights or working radio; and I felt that the longest runway was the safest to land on. I did not see any light gun signals.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.