 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
C185 sea plane pilot had a total electrical failure near pang. The pilot landed at the nearest suitable sea plane airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 586214 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200306 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | AK |
| Altitude | msl single value : 900 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Skywagon 185 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 950 flight time type : 250 |
| ASRS Report | 586214 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : local |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : diverted to another airport none taken : detected after the fact other |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
On VFR approach to lake hood, just prior to the boat hull, I experienced a complete and sudden electrical failure. I lost all radios and transponder. I intended to fly radio and procedures, but erratic fuel gauge reading made me concerned that I could also have a fuel leak. The gauges alternatively read comply and 1/4 full, which was inconsistent with a total power failure, which should have caused the gauges to simply read comply. Fearing sudden engine failure, I entered the pattern for lake hood, landed safely, and called information to lake hood tower. It was not listed. I called international tower and got a recording. I then called merrill field tower, and relayed the occurrence through them to lake hood tower, so that lake hood would be aware of the landing and the circumstances.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: C185 SEA PLANE PLT HAD A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE NEAR PANG. THE PLT LANDED AT THE NEAREST SUITABLE SEA PLANE ARPT.
Narrative: ON VFR APCH TO LAKE HOOD, JUST PRIOR TO THE BOAT HULL, I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. I LOST ALL RADIOS AND XPONDER. I INTENDED TO FLY RADIO AND PROCS, BUT ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE READING MADE ME CONCERNED THAT I COULD ALSO HAVE A FUEL LEAK. THE GAUGES ALTERNATIVELY READ COMPLY AND 1/4 FULL, WHICH WAS INCONSISTENT WITH A TOTAL PWR FAILURE, WHICH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE GAUGES TO SIMPLY READ COMPLY. FEARING SUDDEN ENG FAILURE, I ENTERED THE PATTERN FOR LAKE HOOD, LANDED SAFELY, AND CALLED INFORMATION TO LAKE HOOD TWR. IT WAS NOT LISTED. I CALLED INTL TWR AND GOT A RECORDING. I THEN CALLED MERRILL FIELD TWR, AND RELAYED THE OCCURRENCE THROUGH THEM TO LAKE HOOD TWR, SO THAT LAKE HOOD WOULD BE AWARE OF THE LNDG AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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.