Small aircraft freighter experiences electrical fire indications which disappear after running check...

Attributes
ACN	154239
Time
Date	199007
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dbq
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	154239
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Both RMI and HSI heading indicators were flagged as inoperative. I checked the bus 1 dg circuit breaker and found that it had popped. I reset the circuit breaker and a few seconds later it had popped again. I then checked with copilot dg and the magnetic compass to verify a correct heading. At that time I was handed off to chicago center. I then smelled what I thought was burning wire insulation. I hurriedly told chicago center 'center possible electrical fire shutting off electrics.' and then immediately proceeded with the electrical fire in flight checklist. When all checklist items completed I turned the aircraft left 20 degrees to go direct to cedar rapids for a possible emergency landing. After 5 mins, ensuring that there was no smoke or fire, I selected the battery switch to the on position and waited a few moments, and then selected avionics 1 switch on with a min delay and then the avionics 2 switch on with another min delay making sure again that there was no smoke or fire. In another min I turned on navigation comm 2 and the transponder and told chicago center that the situation was under control and that I was operating on battery power and with one navigation comm and transponder only as a precaution and would continue to my destination. All was routine for the remainder of the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA FREIGHTER EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL FIRE INDICATIONS WHICH DISAPPEAR AFTER RUNNING CHKLISTS AND PROCEEDS TO DEST WITH MINIMUM ELECTRICAL LOAD.

Narrative: BOTH RMI AND HSI HDG INDICATORS WERE FLAGGED AS INOP. I CHKED THE BUS 1 DG CB AND FOUND THAT IT HAD POPPED. I RESET THE CB AND A FEW SECS LATER IT HAD POPPED AGAIN. I THEN CHKED WITH COPLT DG AND THE MAGNETIC COMPASS TO VERIFY A CORRECT HDG. AT THAT TIME I WAS HANDED OFF TO CHICAGO CTR. I THEN SMELLED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS BURNING WIRE INSULATION. I HURRIEDLY TOLD CHICAGO CTR 'CTR POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIRE SHUTTING OFF ELECTRICS.' AND THEN IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED WITH THE ELECTRICAL FIRE IN FLT CHKLIST. WHEN ALL CHKLIST ITEMS COMPLETED I TURNED THE ACFT L 20 DEGS TO GO DIRECT TO CEDAR RAPIDS FOR A POSSIBLE EMER LNDG. AFTER 5 MINS, ENSURING THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FIRE, I SELECTED THE BATTERY SWITCH TO THE ON POS AND WAITED A FEW MOMENTS, AND THEN SELECTED AVIONICS 1 SWITCH ON WITH A MIN DELAY AND THEN THE AVIONICS 2 SWITCH ON WITH ANOTHER MIN DELAY MAKING SURE AGAIN THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FIRE. IN ANOTHER MIN I TURNED ON NAV COMM 2 AND THE XPONDER AND TOLD CHICAGO CTR THAT THE SITUATION WAS UNDER CTL AND THAT I WAS OPERATING ON BATTERY PWR AND WITH ONE NAV COMM AND XPONDER ONLY AS A PRECAUTION AND WOULD CONTINUE TO MY DEST. ALL WAS ROUTINE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT.

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.

Small aircraft freighter experiences electrical fire indications which disappear after running checklists and proceeds to destination with minimum electrical load.