A PA28T pilot experiences an electrical failure resulting in lost communication while on an IFR flig...

Attributes
ACN	626623
Time
Date	200407
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : psb.vortac
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 34.4 flight time total : 13215 flight time type : 669.8
ASRS Report	626623
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : diverted to alternate
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On jul/wed/04, I was on an IFR flight plan with nyc at 5000 ft MSL, having departed 79N airport at XA35 am. I was above scattered clouds on the 141 degree radial of psb about 35 DME when I changed over to har VOR. At that time I lost all electrical power. My hand-held GPS went on its battery power. I immediately executed a 180 degree turn and punched in unv on the GPS. I then attempted to call nyc on my sporty's A300 radio. I could hear them but evidently they could not hear me. I proceeded to descend below the scattered clouds and finally made contact with unv unicom. Since the landing gear is electrically operated I had to lower it with the emergency lever. Not being sure it was down unv confirmed the gear was down. I then proceeded to land successfully at XB35. I know that under IFR you should continue under such circumstances to destination and continue your approach after ETA. But I felt that being in VFR conditions it was better to go to unv rather than disrupt a commercial airport at my destination of mdt. I will never again take off in any aircraft until I place a large ampere load on the electrical system to see if it is charging. Looking back, I don't think my ammeter was showing a charge when I did my preflight checklist.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28T PLT EXPERIENCES AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE RESULTING IN LOST COM WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE PLT DIVERTED VFR TO UNV.

Narrative: ON JUL/WED/04, I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WITH NYC AT 5000 FT MSL, HAVING DEPARTED 79N ARPT AT XA35 AM. I WAS ABOVE SCATTERED CLOUDS ON THE 141 DEG RADIAL OF PSB ABOUT 35 DME WHEN I CHANGED OVER TO HAR VOR. AT THAT TIME I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL PWR. MY HAND-HELD GPS WENT ON ITS BATTERY PWR. I IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED A 180 DEG TURN AND PUNCHED IN UNV ON THE GPS. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO CALL NYC ON MY SPORTY'S A300 RADIO. I COULD HEAR THEM BUT EVIDENTLY THEY COULD NOT HEAR ME. I PROCEEDED TO DSND BELOW THE SCATTERED CLOUDS AND FINALLY MADE CONTACT WITH UNV UNICOM. SINCE THE LNDG GEAR IS ELECTRICALLY OPERATED I HAD TO LOWER IT WITH THE EMER LEVER. NOT BEING SURE IT WAS DOWN UNV CONFIRMED THE GEAR WAS DOWN. I THEN PROCEEDED TO LAND SUCCESSFULLY AT XB35. I KNOW THAT UNDER IFR YOU SHOULD CONTINUE UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES TO DEST AND CONTINUE YOUR APCH AFTER ETA. BUT I FELT THAT BEING IN VFR CONDITIONS IT WAS BETTER TO GO TO UNV RATHER THAN DISRUPT A COMMERCIAL ARPT AT MY DEST OF MDT. I WILL NEVER AGAIN TAKE OFF IN ANY ACFT UNTIL I PLACE A LARGE AMPERE LOAD ON THE ELECTRICAL SYS TO SEE IF IT IS CHARGING. LOOKING BACK, I DON'T THINK MY AMMETER WAS SHOWING A CHARGE WHEN I DID MY PREFLT CHKLIST.

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.

A PA28T pilot experiences an electrical failure resulting in lost communication while on an IFR flight plan in VFR conditions. The pilot diverted VFR to unv.