In-flight electrical system failure.

Attributes
ACN	142511
Time
Date	199004
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : wri
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : wri
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 360 flight time type : 320
ASRS Report	142511
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : military
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On 4/sun/90 while on a VFR flight from west palm beach (lantana), fl, to farmingdale, ny, I experienced a complete electrical power failure. At xa:00 hours local time I was flying an small aircraft tail #XXXX at 5500', 8 to 10 mi east of the nj, shore, 40 to 45 mi north of atlantic city. I was on VFR flight following and was being handed off from atlantic city to mcguire approach when I lost power to my radio. I began to shut down panel lights, navigation, etc, but within mins I lost all electrical power. I turned west toward shore and saw a green and white tower beacon. I checked my charts and headed toward what I believed to be mcguire AFB. I had a hand-held radio on board and contacted mcguire approach on 120.00. After several mins of garbled conversation (which improved as I got closer to mcguire) I declared an emergency and was subsequently cleared by the controller to land at mcguire AFB. I landed the aircraft safely, taxied off the runway and shut down. I later attempted to restart the plane but was unable to do so. The aircraft was then towed to a tie-down area. On 4/thu/90, abc (FBO at farmingdale) dispatched a mechanic to correct the problem. I was later told that he replaced the alternator and voltage regulator. The aircraft was flown out of mcguire at approximately xy:00 hours that same day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.

Narrative: ON 4/SUN/90 WHILE ON A VFR FLT FROM WEST PALM BEACH (LANTANA), FL, TO FARMINGDALE, NY, I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL PWR FAILURE. AT XA:00 HRS LCL TIME I WAS FLYING AN SMA TAIL #XXXX AT 5500', 8 TO 10 MI E OF THE NJ, SHORE, 40 TO 45 MI N OF ATLANTIC CITY. I WAS ON VFR FLT FOLLOWING AND WAS BEING HANDED OFF FROM ATLANTIC CITY TO MCGUIRE APCH WHEN I LOST PWR TO MY RADIO. I BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN PANEL LIGHTS, NAV, ETC, BUT WITHIN MINS I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR. I TURNED W TOWARD SHORE AND SAW A GREEN AND WHITE TWR BEACON. I CHKED MY CHARTS AND HEADED TOWARD WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE MCGUIRE AFB. I HAD A HAND-HELD RADIO ON BOARD AND CONTACTED MCGUIRE APCH ON 120.00. AFTER SEVERAL MINS OF GARBLED CONVERSATION (WHICH IMPROVED AS I GOT CLOSER TO MCGUIRE) I DECLARED AN EMER AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CLRED BY THE CTLR TO LAND AT MCGUIRE AFB. I LANDED THE ACFT SAFELY, TAXIED OFF THE RWY AND SHUT DOWN. I LATER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE PLANE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE ACFT WAS THEN TOWED TO A TIE-DOWN AREA. ON 4/THU/90, ABC (FBO AT FARMINGDALE) DISPATCHED A MECH TO CORRECT THE PROB. I WAS LATER TOLD THAT HE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN OUT OF MCGUIRE AT APPROX XY:00 HRS THAT SAME DAY.

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.