Narrative:

While on IFR flight plan from glr to 5d3 a total electrical failure was experienced. Attempts to reach ZMP to cancel IFR went unanswered. Squawked 7600. The WX ahead was IFR with cumulus clouds topping approximately 12000-13000 ft. Since we were in VFR conditions, I descended to 2500 MSL and continued on to 5d3 in VFR. I called ZMP on the phone after arriving at 5d3 and explained what had happened. They said, 'okay.' I should have been monitoring the ammeter more closely as this would have shown that we were draining the battery. If I would have noticed this sooner, I probably could have contacted someone to cancel the IFR flight plan before the battery was too low to attempt communications.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRIMARY ELECTRICAL SUPPLY PROB IN SMA. USES LOST COM PROC IN VMC DSCNT TO DEST ARPT.

Narrative: WHILE ON IFR FLT PLAN FROM GLR TO 5D3 A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED. ATTEMPTS TO REACH ZMP TO CANCEL IFR WENT UNANSWERED. SQUAWKED 7600. THE WX AHEAD WAS IFR WITH CUMULUS CLOUDS TOPPING APPROX 12000-13000 FT. SINCE WE WERE IN VFR CONDITIONS, I DSNDED TO 2500 MSL AND CONTINUED ON TO 5D3 IN VFR. I CALLED ZMP ON THE PHONE AFTER ARRIVING AT 5D3 AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY SAID, 'OKAY.' I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE AMMETER MORE CLOSELY AS THIS WOULD HAVE SHOWN THAT WE WERE DRAINING THE BATTERY. IF I WOULD HAVE NOTICED THIS SOONER, I PROBABLY COULD HAVE CONTACTED SOMEONE TO CANCEL THE IFR FLT PLAN BEFORE THE BATTERY WAS TOO LOW TO ATTEMPT COMS.

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.