Primary electrical power supply problem.

Attributes
ACN	215824
Time
Date	199207
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pxt
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : iad tracon : dca
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	215824
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure from fdk, brief smell of electrical smoke, circuit blew, alternator read 0. No problems in flight fdk direct MD24 (about 20 NM). Departed MD24 without problems. About 1/2 hour into flight, lights dimmed. VOR stopped receiving. Changed transponder to 7600. Announced intentions to return to fdk VFR. Descended VFR to 2500 ft (below TCA floor). Using pilotage and dead reckoning, flew VFR to fdk. May have had inadvertent incursions into iad TCA or leesburg air traffic area. To improve or correct situation: 1) believe alternator output of 0 (when it reads 0). 2) improve VFR navigation skills. 3) since I own a handheld navigation/communication, bring it. (Was at home in charger).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRIMARY ELECTRICAL PWR SUPPLY PROBLEM.

Narrative: ON DEP FROM FDK, BRIEF SMELL OF ELECTRICAL SMOKE, CIRCUIT BLEW, ALTERNATOR READ 0. NO PROBLEMS IN FLT FDK DIRECT MD24 (ABOUT 20 NM). DEPARTED MD24 WITHOUT PROBLEMS. ABOUT 1/2 HR INTO FLT, LIGHTS DIMMED. VOR STOPPED RECEIVING. CHANGED TRANSPONDER TO 7600. ANNOUNCED INTENTIONS TO RETURN TO FDK VFR. DSNDED VFR TO 2500 FT (BELOW TCA FLOOR). USING PILOTAGE AND DEAD RECKONING, FLEW VFR TO FDK. MAY HAVE HAD INADVERTENT INCURSIONS INTO IAD TCA OR LEESBURG ATA. TO IMPROVE OR CORRECT SITUATION: 1) BELIEVE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT OF 0 (WHEN IT READS 0). 2) IMPROVE VFR NAV SKILLS. 3) SINCE I OWN A HANDHELD NAV/COM, BRING IT. (WAS AT HOME IN CHARGER).

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.