Small aircraft has electrical failure within the 30 mi veil of a TCA.

Attributes
ACN	242989
Time
Date	199306
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak artcc : zkc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 160 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	242989
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While flying northwest a broken alternator belt caused complete electrical failure. This occurred within the 30 NM mode C veil of the TCA and prior to contacting bay approach. I decided to proceed beneath the TCA with no mode C to O56 where repairs could be made. This decision was made so as to maintain maximum VFR as opposed to flying around the 30 NM mark with no radios or navigation equipment where the WX was 21 scattered M27 broken. This, I felt, was the safest course of action to take.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE 30 MI VEIL OF A TCA.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING NW A BROKEN ALTERNATOR BELT CAUSED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN THE 30 NM MODE C VEIL OF THE TCA AND PRIOR TO CONTACTING BAY APCH. I DECIDED TO PROCEED BENEATH THE TCA WITH NO MODE C TO O56 WHERE REPAIRS COULD BE MADE. THIS DECISION WAS MADE SO AS TO MAINTAIN MAX VFR AS OPPOSED TO FLYING AROUND THE 30 NM MARK WITH NO RADIOS OR NAV EQUIP WHERE THE WX WAS 21 SCATTERED M27 BROKEN. THIS, I FELT, WAS THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE.

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.