An atx freighter pilot lost all of his electrical power and had to return land.

Attributes
ACN	263231
Time
Date	199402
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dal
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dal tower : mia
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Cessna 401
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1550 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	263231
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On feb/tue/94, I was PIC of a cessna 401. After takeoff out of runway 13L at dallas love, I experienced a full electrical failure. Being under VFR, I decided to squawk 7600 and return to love field. The initial altitude was 2000 ft and the heading 140 degrees. I remained at this altitude to cross over mid field until the entry in downwind -- at this time, I completed the emergency landing gear extension checklist and was cleared to land by dallas love tower. However, being unable to identify if the gear were down (electrical failure), I decided to go for 1 more traffic pattern to complete the dual alternator failure checklist. After this, I restored the electrical power and decided to land for further inspection.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATX FREIGHTER PLT LOST ALL OF HIS ELECTRICAL PWR AND HAD TO RETURN LAND.

Narrative: ON FEB/TUE/94, I WAS PIC OF A CESSNA 401. AFTER TKOF OUT OF RWY 13L AT DALLAS LOVE, I EXPERIENCED A FULL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. BEING UNDER VFR, I DECIDED TO SQUAWK 7600 AND RETURN TO LOVE FIELD. THE INITIAL ALT WAS 2000 FT AND THE HDG 140 DEGS. I REMAINED AT THIS ALT TO CROSS OVER MID FIELD UNTIL THE ENTRY IN DOWNWIND -- AT THIS TIME, I COMPLETED THE EMER LNDG GEAR EXTENSION CHKLIST AND WAS CLRED TO LAND BY DALLAS LOVE TWR. HOWEVER, BEING UNABLE TO IDENT IF THE GEAR WERE DOWN (ELECTRICAL FAILURE), I DECIDED TO GO FOR 1 MORE TFC PATTERN TO COMPLETE THE DUAL ALTERNATOR FAILURE CHKLIST. AFTER THIS, I RESTORED THE ELECTRICAL PWR AND DECIDED TO LAND FOR FURTHER INSPECTION.

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.