Small aircraft has total electrical failure, makes precautionary landing.

Attributes
ACN	244993
Time
Date	199306
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : i52
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
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 : 60 flight time total : 357 flight time type : 169
ASRS Report	244993
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Encountered a total electrical failure due to the alternator main bearing failing, which resulted in shearing the alternator clutch. I was located approximately 2 mi north of the terry airport, sbound. I recognized the problem when the radios went out. I lowered the landing gear handle and, of course, there were no green lights due to the failure. I began cranking the gear down by hand. I became concerned that there might occur other failures, including engine failure and/or fire. I made the decision to land on the runway, since I was in such proximity of the airport, as expedient and necessary under the circumstances. I was fully aware that the landing gear may not have been down sufficiently to hold the landing. A backup electrical alternator and/or gravity drop gear, in the event of electrical failure, are 2 possible remedies to prevent recurrence.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA HAS TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, MAKES PRECAUTIONARY LNDG.

Narrative: ENCOUNTERED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR MAIN BEARING FAILING, WHICH RESULTED IN SHEARING THE ALTERNATOR CLUTCH. I WAS LOCATED APPROX 2 MI N OF THE TERRY ARPT, SBOUND. I RECOGNIZED THE PROB WHEN THE RADIOS WENT OUT. I LOWERED THE LNDG GEAR HANDLE AND, OF COURSE, THERE WERE NO GREEN LIGHTS DUE TO THE FAILURE. I BEGAN CRANKING THE GEAR DOWN BY HAND. I BECAME CONCERNED THAT THERE MIGHT OCCUR OTHER FAILURES, INCLUDING ENG FAILURE AND/OR FIRE. I MADE THE DECISION TO LAND ON THE RWY, SINCE I WAS IN SUCH PROX OF THE ARPT, AS EXPEDIENT AND NECESSARY UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. I WAS FULLY AWARE THAT THE LNDG GEAR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DOWN SUFFICIENTLY TO HOLD THE LNDG. A BACKUP ELECTRICAL ALTERNATOR AND/OR GRAVITY DROP GEAR, IN THE EVENT OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE, ARE 2 POSSIBLE REMEDIES TO PREVENT RECURRENCE.

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.