Small aircraft pilot makes precautionary landing due to electrical failure.

Attributes
ACN	149384
Time
Date	199006
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hln
State Reference	MT
Altitude	agl bound lower : 3000 agl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : hln
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 220
ASRS Report	149384
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	faa : investigated Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

En route on a VFR flight plan from bil-mso, I encountered an electrical problem with engine instruments. My engine temperature gauge showed red zone, oil pressure-red zone, my fuel gauges showed empty. I called gtf, FSS and told them I was experiencing electrical problems and was on a VFR flight plan to mso but would be landing at hln for repairs. They contacted hln approach of my problem and I made a precautionary landing at hln and was met by 3-4 firetrucks. Upon investigation by a mechanic on field we discover a short from a ground wire on instrument cluster. The problem was explained by the mechanic to the FAA officials.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT MAKES PRECAUTIONARY LNDG DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE.

Narrative: ENRTE ON A VFR FLT PLAN FROM BIL-MSO, I ENCOUNTERED AN ELECTRICAL PROB WITH ENG INSTRUMENTS. MY ENG TEMP GAUGE SHOWED RED ZONE, OIL PRESSURE-RED ZONE, MY FUEL GAUGES SHOWED EMPTY. I CALLED GTF, FSS AND TOLD THEM I WAS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBS AND WAS ON A VFR FLT PLAN TO MSO BUT WOULD BE LNDG AT HLN FOR REPAIRS. THEY CONTACTED HLN APCH OF MY PROB AND I MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT HLN AND WAS MET BY 3-4 FIRETRUCKS. UPON INVESTIGATION BY A MECH ON FIELD WE DISCOVER A SHORT FROM A GND WIRE ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE PROB WAS EXPLAINED BY THE MECH TO THE FAA OFFICIALS.

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.