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A PA28 pilot loses electrical power while in mixed IFR conditions. Returns to airport and lands in emergency condition.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 627826 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200408 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : x60.airport |
| State Reference | FL |
| Altitude | msl single value : 7000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zjx.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 : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 200 |
| ASRS Report | 627826 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : amp meter other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : diverted to alternate |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Filed IFR X60 to pdk approximately XB15. Departed X60 approximately XA30. Contacted jax approach who initially had problem picking up transponder (clue #1?). After 1-1 1/2 hours portable GPS plugged into cigarette lighter started message, intermittently, that it would go to battery power in 30 seconds. Noted volts now approximately 10 volts. Checked loads on ammeter to see no charging. Requested return back to X60 from ATC and began shutting off non essentials. Clearance direct to X60, 7000 ft (initially on top). GPS quit. Advised ATC of alternator failure (not sure if they received as transmitter began failing). Lost all radios shortly thereafter while attempting to cancel IFR since appeared holes in clouds. Shut off all electrical to attempt to conserve battery power (indicated less than 9 volts). Descended around clouds for visual approach. Extended gear with emergency extension procedure. No green down lights with master on. Normal landing, taxi in and shut down. Airport manager advised that ATC called and he told them we were safely down.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A PA28 PLT LOSES ELECTRICAL PWR WHILE IN MIXED IFR CONDITIONS. RETURNS TO ARPT AND LANDS IN EMER CONDITION.
Narrative: FILED IFR X60 TO PDK APPROX XB15. DEPARTED X60 APPROX XA30. CONTACTED JAX APCH WHO INITIALLY HAD PROB PICKING UP XPONDER (CLUE #1?). AFTER 1-1 1/2 HRS PORTABLE GPS PLUGGED INTO CIGARETTE LIGHTER STARTED MESSAGE, INTERMITTENTLY, THAT IT WOULD GO TO BATTERY PWR IN 30 SECONDS. NOTED VOLTS NOW APPROX 10 VOLTS. CHKED LOADS ON AMMETER TO SEE NO CHARGING. REQUESTED RETURN BACK TO X60 FROM ATC AND BEGAN SHUTTING OFF NON ESSENTIALS. CLRNC DIRECT TO X60, 7000 FT (INITIALLY ON TOP). GPS QUIT. ADVISED ATC OF ALTERNATOR FAILURE (NOT SURE IF THEY RECEIVED AS XMITTER BEGAN FAILING). LOST ALL RADIOS SHORTLY THEREAFTER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CANCEL IFR SINCE APPEARED HOLES IN CLOUDS. SHUT OFF ALL ELECTRICAL TO ATTEMPT TO CONSERVE BATTERY PWR (INDICATED LESS THAN 9 VOLTS). DSNDED AROUND CLOUDS FOR VISUAL APCH. EXTENDED GEAR WITH EMER EXTENSION PROC. NO GREEN DOWN LIGHTS WITH MASTER ON. NORMAL LNDG, TAXI IN AND SHUT DOWN. ARPT MGR ADVISED THAT ATC CALLED AND HE TOLD THEM WE WERE SAFELY DOWN.
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.