An small aircraft lost its electrical system in VMC.

Attributes
ACN	262243
Time
Date	199401
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eca
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sck
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zoa
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	262243
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While in contact with stockton approach, I experienced total radio, navigation, and transponder failure, presumably resulting from a short circuit in the electrical system. Using a hand- held radio, my safety pilot contacted ZOA canceling IFR, who eventually contacted stockton approach but with some delay, causing anxious moments at the TRACON facility. Although I tried squawking 7600, TRACON did not receive this. Center should have been alerted to contact stockton approach immediately. Also, transmitting on 121.5 would have been more effective. We proceeded VFR to home base without difficulty.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA LOST ITS ELECTRICAL SYS IN VMC.

Narrative: WHILE IN CONTACT WITH STOCKTON APCH, I EXPERIENCED TOTAL RADIO, NAV, AND XPONDER FAILURE, PRESUMABLY RESULTING FROM A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYS. USING A HAND- HELD RADIO, MY SAFETY PLT CONTACTED ZOA CANCELING IFR, WHO EVENTUALLY CONTACTED STOCKTON APCH BUT WITH SOME DELAY, CAUSING ANXIOUS MOMENTS AT THE TRACON FACILITY. ALTHOUGH I TRIED SQUAWKING 7600, TRACON DID NOT RECEIVE THIS. CTR SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALERTED TO CONTACT STOCKTON APCH IMMEDIATELY. ALSO, XMITTING ON 121.5 WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE. WE PROCEEDED VFR TO HOME BASE WITHOUT DIFFICULTY.

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.