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GA pilot with very little experience lands safely at pie with emergency electrical failure in small aircraft.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 455198 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199911 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : pie.airport |
| State Reference | FL |
| Altitude | msl single value : 1500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | other |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : pie.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 5.6 flight time total : 58.5 flight time type : 2.9 |
| ASRS Report | 455198 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical incursion : landing without clearance non adherence other |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : electrical source -- alternator other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
I was about to change radio frequency from 120.1 (srq) to tpa approach 119.65, when the communication was distorted by noises. I was then right before the I275, sky bridge and about to cross the bay at 1500 ft. I couldn't hear tpa approach clear and started to adjust frequency tuning. I then realized that there was an electrical problem. The tank gauges indicated zero, although I knew I had at least 2 hours more in fuel! The alternator wasn't charging (I also recycled the master switch). I was now over st petersburg beaches. I could have landed on whitted (spg) but I judged that it would be safer to land at pie (spg is short without flaps). Runway 4 pie was clear of traffic, so I went directly to final. I didn't circle around the ATC tower to see light signals because of haze but I landed the plane on runway 4 without damage.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: GA PLT WITH VERY LITTLE EXPERIENCE LANDS SAFELY AT PIE WITH EMER ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN SMA.
Narrative: I WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE RADIO FREQ FROM 120.1 (SRQ) TO TPA APCH 119.65, WHEN THE COM WAS DISTORTED BY NOISES. I WAS THEN RIGHT BEFORE THE I275, SKY BRIDGE AND ABOUT TO CROSS THE BAY AT 1500 FT. I COULDN'T HEAR TPA APCH CLR AND STARTED TO ADJUST FREQ TUNING. I THEN REALIZED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROB. THE TANK GAUGES INDICATED ZERO, ALTHOUGH I KNEW I HAD AT LEAST 2 HRS MORE IN FUEL! THE ALTERNATOR WASN'T CHARGING (I ALSO RECYCLED THE MASTER SWITCH). I WAS NOW OVER ST PETERSBURG BEACHES. I COULD HAVE LANDED ON WHITTED (SPG) BUT I JUDGED THAT IT WOULD BE SAFER TO LAND AT PIE (SPG IS SHORT WITHOUT FLAPS). RWY 4 PIE WAS CLR OF TFC, SO I WENT DIRECTLY TO FINAL. I DIDN'T CIRCLE AROUND THE ATC TWR TO SEE LIGHT SIGNALS BECAUSE OF HAZE BUT I LANDED THE PLANE ON RWY 4 WITHOUT DAMAGE.
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.