Pilots on training flight lost all electrical power while on top resulting in lost communication and an emergency descent through a hole in the undercast to VFR conditions.

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Attributes
ACN	318702
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : buu airport : mke
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mke tower : boi
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	other other : other pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 1100 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	318702
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We departed VFR and, as we began to climb out, realized it was necessary to get an IFR pop-up clearance to get above the clouds to do our airwork (multi-engine demonstrations). The controller cleared us direct to buu VOR and maintain 7000 ft. After reaching buu and level at 7000 ft, we were cleared to practice northwest of buu -- VFR on top. Approximately 5 mins into the first demonstration, we lost all electrical power. It was at this time that I noticed my student never turned on the alternators. And I had failed to catch this on the run-up. We squawked 7600 (even though the transponder wasn't working!) and began to head west to find some VFR WX. We maintained 7000 ft and promptly turned on the alternators. About 3 mins later we found a hole large enough to descend through the broken layer. We made an emergency descent out of 7000 ft to 2000 ft, and leveled off in VFR conditions directly over east troy airport. There we circled for approximately 15 mins until the alternators came back on line, at which time mke picked us up on their screen squawking 7600. We made contact. Got a new squawk code and returned to mke for a full stop landing. We decided to call it a day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTS ON TRAINING FLT LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR WHILE ON TOP RESULTING IN LOST COM AND AN EMER DSCNT THROUGH A HOLE IN THE UNDERCAST TO VFR CONDITIONS.

Narrative: WE DEPARTED VFR AND, AS WE BEGAN TO CLB OUT, REALIZED IT WAS NECESSARY TO GET AN IFR POP-UP CLRNC TO GET ABOVE THE CLOUDS TO DO OUR AIRWORK (MULTI-ENG DEMONSTRATIONS). THE CTLR CLRED US DIRECT TO BUU VOR AND MAINTAIN 7000 FT. AFTER REACHING BUU AND LEVEL AT 7000 FT, WE WERE CLRED TO PRACTICE NW OF BUU -- VFR ON TOP. APPROX 5 MINS INTO THE FIRST DEMONSTRATION, WE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT I NOTICED MY STUDENT NEVER TURNED ON THE ALTERNATORS. AND I HAD FAILED TO CATCH THIS ON THE RUN-UP. WE SQUAWKED 7600 (EVEN THOUGH THE XPONDER WASN'T WORKING!) AND BEGAN TO HEAD W TO FIND SOME VFR WX. WE MAINTAINED 7000 FT AND PROMPTLY TURNED ON THE ALTERNATORS. ABOUT 3 MINS LATER WE FOUND A HOLE LARGE ENOUGH TO DSND THROUGH THE BROKEN LAYER. WE MADE AN EMER DSCNT OUT OF 7000 FT TO 2000 FT, AND LEVELED OFF IN VFR CONDITIONS DIRECTLY OVER E TROY ARPT. THERE WE CIRCLED FOR APPROX 15 MINS UNTIL THE ALTERNATORS CAME BACK ON LINE, AT WHICH TIME MKE PICKED US UP ON THEIR SCREEN SQUAWKING 7600. WE MADE CONTACT. GOT A NEW SQUAWK CODE AND RETURNED TO MKE FOR A FULL STOP LNDG. WE DECIDED TO CALL IT A DAY.

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.