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T34 pilot reported a loss of electrical power that resulted in a return to the field and landing without communication with the tower.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1408998 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201612 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Tower |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Mentor/Turbo Mentor (T-34) |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Landing |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Electrical Power |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 18 Flight Crew Total 1800 Flight Crew Type 1500 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Landing Without Clearance |
Narrative:
I had a complete electrical failure. I lost all navigation and communication equipment. I also lost landing gear indication and fuel gauges. Decided to return to [departure airport]. Descended from 3500 MSL to pattern altitude on a left base approach to runway 31. I could not communicate with the tower. I could not lower my landing gear electrically. I swept the control panel and checked the circuit breakers twice. I then cranked the landing gear down by hand while descending. While crossing the highway on a left base I waggled my wings to indicate no radios. I visually cleared the pattern and made a safe landing behind the only other aircraft I saw in the pattern. I cannot honestly say whether I received a green light. I looked briefly at the tower but my major concern was to land safely as soon as possible without interfering with other flight operations and before I lost something else that could have forced an engine failure. As I taxied to my parking spot; I pointed to my headset and gave a thumbs down to the tower. I then tried to contact the tower by telephone; but could only leave a voicemail. To date I have not heard from them.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: T34 pilot reported a loss of electrical power that resulted in a return to the field and landing without communication with the tower.
Narrative: I had a complete electrical failure. I lost all navigation and communication equipment. I also lost landing gear indication and fuel gauges. Decided to return to [departure airport]. Descended from 3500 MSL to pattern altitude on a left base approach to runway 31. I could not communicate with the tower. I could not lower my landing gear electrically. I swept the control panel and checked the circuit breakers twice. I then cranked the landing gear down by hand while descending. While crossing the highway on a left base I waggled my wings to indicate no radios. I visually cleared the pattern and made a safe landing behind the only other aircraft I saw in the pattern. I cannot honestly say whether I received a green light. I looked briefly at the tower but my major concern was to land safely as soon as possible without interfering with other flight operations and before I lost something else that could have forced an engine failure. As I taxied to my parking spot; I pointed to my headset and gave a thumbs down to the tower. I then tried to contact the tower by telephone; but could only leave a voicemail. To date I have not heard from them.
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.