Atx lost both navigation communications while in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	237734
Time
Date	199303
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bdl airport : teb
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	237734
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While level at 6000 ft I was proceeding direct carmel VOR when the instrument lights got extremely bright and both navigation/communications failed shortly after. After waiting 3 mins I reset transponder to 7600 and reset circuit breakers to no avail. Sparks shot out near the copilot's plug in, so in the interest of safety, I did not try them any more. The aircraft had no auxiliary avionics master. The only navigation instrument I had left was an NDB. I flew direct to teb at 6000 ft via commercial am radio station which is 1 mi north of teb. When I got within/at 15 mi of torby LOM at teb I flew direct to it and shot the NDB 6 full approach at teb at my ETA. I broke out at 1300 ft, got the green light gun from the tower and landed without further trouble.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX LOST BOTH NAV COMS WHILE IN IMC.

Narrative: WHILE LEVEL AT 6000 FT I WAS PROCEEDING DIRECT CARMEL VOR WHEN THE INST LIGHTS GOT EXTREMELY BRIGHT AND BOTH NAV/COMS FAILED SHORTLY AFTER. AFTER WAITING 3 MINS I RESET XPONDER TO 7600 AND RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS TO NO AVAIL. SPARKS SHOT OUT NEAR THE COPLT'S PLUG IN, SO IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, I DID NOT TRY THEM ANY MORE. THE ACFT HAD NO AUX AVIONICS MASTER. THE ONLY NAV INST I HAD LEFT WAS AN NDB. I FLEW DIRECT TO TEB AT 6000 FT VIA COMMERCIAL AM RADIO STATION WHICH IS 1 MI N OF TEB. WHEN I GOT WITHIN/AT 15 MI OF TORBY LOM AT TEB I FLEW DIRECT TO IT AND SHOT THE NDB 6 FULL APCH AT TEB AT MY ETA. I BROKE OUT AT 1300 FT, GOT THE GREEN LIGHT GUN FROM THE TWR AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER TROUBLE.

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.