C150 pilot had total electrical failure and lost communication on the aircraft radios as a result.

Attributes
ACN	537848
Time
Date	200202
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lbe.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Weather Elements	other
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lbe.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 16.4 flight time total : 684.5 flight time type : 642.5
ASRS Report	537848
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : landed in emergency condition none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Approaching the airport, approximately 10 NM the navigation-communication led panel began flashing. I lost the ability to transmit, called tower on hand-held and told them I could still receive. Lost ability to receive and I shut down all electrical via the master and alternator switches. Maintained communication with the tower via hand-held and advised I had no lights. Was cleared to land #2. I reported #2 in sight and landed. Tower asked if I was down, as I had no lights and I replied 'yes.' I was cleared to taxi to parking and monitor ground, which I did. I am not aware I did anything wrong and am filing this as a precaution for myself and for your information.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C150 PLT HAD TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND LOST COM ON THE ACFT RADIOS AS A RESULT.

Narrative: APCHING THE ARPT, APPROX 10 NM THE NAV-COM LED PANEL BEGAN FLASHING. I LOST THE ABILITY TO XMIT, CALLED TWR ON HAND-HELD AND TOLD THEM I COULD STILL RECEIVE. LOST ABILITY TO RECEIVE AND I SHUT DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL VIA THE MASTER AND ALTERNATOR SWITCHES. MAINTAINED COM WITH THE TWR VIA HAND-HELD AND ADVISED I HAD NO LIGHTS. WAS CLRED TO LAND #2. I RPTED #2 IN SIGHT AND LANDED. TWR ASKED IF I WAS DOWN, AS I HAD NO LIGHTS AND I REPLIED 'YES.' I WAS CLRED TO TAXI TO PARKING AND MONITOR GND, WHICH I DID. I AM NOT AWARE I DID ANYTHING WRONG AND AM FILING THIS AS A PRECAUTION FOR MYSELF AND FOR YOUR INFO.

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.