Small aircraft had alternator failure in-flight, land at destination ok.

Attributes
ACN	136359
Time
Date	199002
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sat
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sat tower : sat
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 410 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	136359
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

After departing san marcos, last leg to sat, flying alone. Problem noted upon reaching cruise--3000' MSL. Mechanical failure: noted amps at 0. Adjusted throttle to determine not indication problem (i.e., idled throttle to see if lights dimmed, etc). No change, therefore alternator output bad. Tried to recycle act side of master switch after turning off all electrical equipment. Used a flashlight for internal lighting. Scanning my alternator enabled me to catch problem before battery died. 15 NM north of sat I turned on 1 radio and called approach. Advised approach of my situation. Advised to call back 5 NM from field and expect light signals on ground (as requested). 5 NM turned on radio again, 'cleared to land' 12L, greaser. Electric fuel pump used for landing. Light signals and follow-me truck got me to my ramp. The system worked like clockwork! Queried by FAA official. Gave name, license and fuel remaining. 2 1/2 hours fuel remaining upon T/D.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAD ALTERNATOR FAILURE INFLT, LAND AT DESTINATION OK.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING SAN MARCOS, LAST LEG TO SAT, FLYING ALONE. PROB NOTED UPON REACHING CRUISE--3000' MSL. MECHANICAL FAILURE: NOTED AMPS AT 0. ADJUSTED THROTTLE TO DETERMINE NOT INDICATION PROB (I.E., IDLED THROTTLE TO SEE IF LIGHTS DIMMED, ETC). NO CHANGE, THEREFORE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT BAD. TRIED TO RECYCLE ACT SIDE OF MASTER SWITCH AFTER TURNING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. USED A FLASHLIGHT FOR INTERNAL LIGHTING. SCANNING MY ALTERNATOR ENABLED ME TO CATCH PROB BEFORE BATTERY DIED. 15 NM N OF SAT I TURNED ON 1 RADIO AND CALLED APCH. ADVISED APCH OF MY SITUATION. ADVISED TO CALL BACK 5 NM FROM FIELD AND EXPECT LIGHT SIGNALS ON GND (AS REQUESTED). 5 NM TURNED ON RADIO AGAIN, 'CLRED TO LAND' 12L, GREASER. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP USED FOR LNDG. LIGHT SIGNALS AND FOLLOW-ME TRUCK GOT ME TO MY RAMP. THE SYS WORKED LIKE CLOCKWORK! QUERIED BY FAA OFFICIAL. GAVE NAME, LICENSE AND FUEL REMAINING. 2 1/2 HRS FUEL REMAINING UPON T/D.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.