Narrative:

We (student CFI) departed killeen, tx, in the morning on a training IFR x-country to tyler, tx. En route we performed a VOR/DME into wallo (altitude). From waco to tyler we received vectors from fort worth center about 25 NM southwest of tyler we were advised to contact tyler approach. We advised tyler approach that our DME was inoperative and we requested the ILS 13 into tyler. About 2 mi out of the LOM we were not able to receive with the ADF, and we could not understand ATC, he was breaking up. We received the OM and the localizer and proceeded outbnd. We did not receive G/south at any time, so we maintained 2000'. Going inbound we also lost the localizer. The tips of the clouds were at about 3000' MSL. We were ready to climb up over the tops when we saw a hole on our right hand side (south). We could see the lake. I (CFI) took the airplane through the hole down to the lake. Visibility and ceiling were too low to proceed VFR to the tyler airport (ATIS had reported 400/2). I decided to make a landing as soon as practicable. I landed on a private field on the west side of the lake. On the ground I immediately contacted FSS and explained our emergency. The airplane is back at our airport and flying again. My concern is the following: since I talked to FSS only, I'm not sure if ATC at tyler understood that we had deviated from their clearance because of an emergency. (Total electrical failure). Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter indicated during callback that mechanic was unable to isolate cause of electrical failure, but that changing the alternator and some other electrical system components eliminated the problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT ON IFR CROSS-COUNTRY TRAINING FLT EXPERIENCE TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN IMC, FIND MARGINAL VMC AND EXECUTE EMERGENCY OFF ARPT LNDG.

Narrative: WE (STUDENT CFI) DEPARTED KILLEEN, TX, IN THE MORNING ON A TRNING IFR X-COUNTRY TO TYLER, TX. ENRTE WE PERFORMED A VOR/DME INTO WALLO (ALT). FROM WACO TO TYLER WE RECEIVED VECTORS FROM FORT WORTH CTR ABOUT 25 NM SW OF TYLER WE WERE ADVISED TO CONTACT TYLER APCH. WE ADVISED TYLER APCH THAT OUR DME WAS INOPERATIVE AND WE REQUESTED THE ILS 13 INTO TYLER. ABOUT 2 MI OUT OF THE LOM WE WERE NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE WITH THE ADF, AND WE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND ATC, HE WAS BREAKING UP. WE RECEIVED THE OM AND THE LOC AND PROCEEDED OUTBND. WE DID NOT RECEIVE G/S AT ANY TIME, SO WE MAINTAINED 2000'. GOING INBND WE ALSO LOST THE LOC. THE TIPS OF THE CLOUDS WERE AT ABOUT 3000' MSL. WE WERE READY TO CLB UP OVER THE TOPS WHEN WE SAW A HOLE ON OUR R HAND SIDE (S). WE COULD SEE THE LAKE. I (CFI) TOOK THE AIRPLANE THROUGH THE HOLE DOWN TO THE LAKE. VISIBILITY AND CEILING WERE TOO LOW TO PROCEED VFR TO THE TYLER ARPT (ATIS HAD RPTED 400/2). I DECIDED TO MAKE A LNDG AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. I LANDED ON A PRIVATE FIELD ON THE W SIDE OF THE LAKE. ON THE GND I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED FSS AND EXPLAINED OUR EMER. THE AIRPLANE IS BACK AT OUR ARPT AND FLYING AGAIN. MY CONCERN IS THE FOLLOWING: SINCE I TALKED TO FSS ONLY, I'M NOT SURE IF ATC AT TYLER UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAD DEVIATED FROM THEIR CLRNC BECAUSE OF AN EMER. (TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE). CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR INDICATED DURING CALLBACK THAT MECH WAS UNABLE TO ISOLATE CAUSE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE, BUT THAT CHANGING THE ALTERNATOR AND SOME OTHER ELECTRICAL SYS COMPONENTS ELIMINATED THE PROB.

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.