Narrative:

Pvd approach had just cleared me from 7000 ft to 5000 ft when I noticed the radio led lights start to flicker. I could still hear ATC for the next few mins, but they could not hear me. Then the radios went completely dead. I turned off all electrical equipment and the radios back on, but nothing happened. I squawked 7600 but realized I was getting no reply light so I shut the master off for good. I hooked up my handheld radio and relayed to ATC my situation. They asked if I wanted to cancel IFR. I said yes. Pvd tower cleared me for landing about 10 mi out. I could hear them both they could not hear me until I was really close. After landing, I was escorted by the fire trucks to an FBO where I was instructed to and did call pvd approach supervisor. She said there was no real problem but wanted to know what happened so she could do her report.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN VMC HAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE EXCEPT FOR ITS HANDHELD RADIO.

Narrative: PVD APCH HAD JUST CLRED ME FROM 7000 FT TO 5000 FT WHEN I NOTICED THE RADIO LED LIGHTS START TO FLICKER. I COULD STILL HEAR ATC FOR THE NEXT FEW MINS, BUT THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME. THEN THE RADIOS WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. I TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIP AND THE RADIOS BACK ON, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I SQUAWKED 7600 BUT REALIZED I WAS GETTING NO REPLY LIGHT SO I SHUT THE MASTER OFF FOR GOOD. I HOOKED UP MY HANDHELD RADIO AND RELAYED TO ATC MY SIT. THEY ASKED IF I WANTED TO CANCEL IFR. I SAID YES. PVD TWR CLRED ME FOR LNDG ABOUT 10 MI OUT. I COULD HEAR THEM BOTH THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME UNTIL I WAS REALLY CLOSE. AFTER LNDG, I WAS ESCORTED BY THE FIRE TRUCKS TO AN FBO WHERE I WAS INSTRUCTED TO AND DID CALL PVD APCH SUPVR. SHE SAID THERE WAS NO REAL PROB BUT WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED SO SHE COULD DO HER RPT.

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.