<< >> NASA ASRS Report 350924, October 1996

Left generator alternator failure after takeoff during initial climb. Due to known WX at destination and nighttime operational lighting required, a return land was made.

Attributes
ACN	350924
Time
Date	199610
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ack
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 100 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ack
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : initial other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 5600 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	350924
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Immediately after takeoff the left generator failed. I proceeded to complete the after takeoff checklist and then the 'generator failed' checklist. I was unable to bring the left generator on line. I then decided to return to ack since that airport was VFR and the WX at my destination (bos) was deteriorating. I did not want to continue the flight on 1 generator into IMC conditions. I was aware of the adverse WX conditions in the bos area because I had just completed a flight through that area. As a result of my actions (which I consider prudent and safe) I've been called to appear in front of my chief pilot to explain why I didn't continue the flight!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: L GENERATOR ALTERNATOR FAILURE AFTER TKOF DURING INITIAL CLB. DUE TO KNOWN WX AT DEST AND NIGHTTIME OPERATIONAL LIGHTING REQUIRED, A RETURN LAND WAS MADE.

Narrative: IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF THE L GENERATOR FAILED. I PROCEEDED TO COMPLETE THE AFTER TKOF CHKLIST AND THEN THE 'GENERATOR FAILED' CHKLIST. I WAS UNABLE TO BRING THE L GENERATOR ON LINE. I THEN DECIDED TO RETURN TO ACK SINCE THAT ARPT WAS VFR AND THE WX AT MY DEST (BOS) WAS DETERIORATING. I DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE THE FLT ON 1 GENERATOR INTO IMC CONDITIONS. I WAS AWARE OF THE ADVERSE WX CONDITIONS IN THE BOS AREA BECAUSE I HAD JUST COMPLETED A FLT THROUGH THAT AREA. AS A RESULT OF MY ACTIONS (WHICH I CONSIDER PRUDENT AND SAFE) I'VE BEEN CALLED TO APPEAR IN FRONT OF MY CHIEF PLT TO EXPLAIN WHY I DIDN'T CONTINUE THE FLT!

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.