Small aircraft has total electrical failure while on flight following.

Attributes
ACN	240403
Time
Date	199305
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pvd
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pvd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 237 flight time type : 22
ASRS Report	240403
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was on advisories from cape approach on a flight from nantucket, ma, to windham, ct. Everything was going fine and uneventful until I called cape to see if he was going to pass me to providence or end service. I was unable to raise cape approach or providence approach. I then saw my 2 navigation radios quit and the transponder and ADF as well. I finally lost all electrical power entirely. I knew the area and I proceeded to destination using my compass. At this time, we don't know what happened, possibly or major short circuit or alternator failure. I don't know how it could have been prevented. I was able to find my destination and I'm very glad it wasn't night and/or IMC. A hand held radio will be in my future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE ON FLT FOLLOWING.

Narrative: I WAS ON ADVISORIES FROM CAPE APCH ON A FLT FROM NANTUCKET, MA, TO WINDHAM, CT. EVERYTHING WAS GOING FINE AND UNEVENTFUL UNTIL I CALLED CAPE TO SEE IF HE WAS GOING TO PASS ME TO PROVIDENCE OR END SVC. I WAS UNABLE TO RAISE CAPE APCH OR PROVIDENCE APCH. I THEN SAW MY 2 NAV RADIOS QUIT AND THE XPONDER AND ADF AS WELL. I FINALLY LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR ENTIRELY. I KNEW THE AREA AND I PROCEEDED TO DEST USING MY COMPASS. AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, POSSIBLY OR MAJOR SHORT CIRCUIT OR ALTERNATOR FAILURE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. I WAS ABLE TO FIND MY DEST AND I'M VERY GLAD IT WASN'T NIGHT AND/OR IMC. A HAND HELD RADIO WILL BE IN MY FUTURE.

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.