C182 pilot encounters severe turbulence while troubleshooting electrical problems and diverts.

Attributes
ACN	722174
Time
Date	200612
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz.artcc
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc tower : zzz.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : private pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	722174
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Weather
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

IFR flight plan at 9000 ft needed to turn 25 degrees left for WX. ATC approved request. The conditions were VMC; the WX was a severe buildup. On the vector; my radio xmissions were not getting to ATC. I started to check potential problems and discovered the alternator circuit breaker was out. I ran the emergency procedure checklist and got the alternator on line again. During this time I encountered severe turbulence and could not maintain altitude. I declared an emergency and squawked 7700 and stated intentions on 121.50. I wasn't sure if the radio calls were heard; but figured the squawk would be seen. I remained in VMC and diverted to the nearest airport. I finally restored enough battery power to make a transmission to ATC which handed me off to tower. The tower asked if I was still in an emergency situation; and I said no. I then was asked to squawk 1200. I landed without incident and was given a phone number to call. I talked to the center manager and he said I did the correct thing and just wanted to make sure I was ok. The conditions required all electrical equipment which caused the battery to drain talk time to a minimum.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 PLT ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB WHILE TROUBLESHOOTING ELECTRICAL PROBS AND DIVERTS.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN AT 9000 FT NEEDED TO TURN 25 DEGS L FOR WX. ATC APPROVED REQUEST. THE CONDITIONS WERE VMC; THE WX WAS A SEVERE BUILDUP. ON THE VECTOR; MY RADIO XMISSIONS WERE NOT GETTING TO ATC. I STARTED TO CHK POTENTIAL PROBS AND DISCOVERED THE ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS OUT. I RAN THE EMER PROC CHKLIST AND GOT THE ALTERNATOR ON LINE AGAIN. DURING THIS TIME I ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT. I DECLARED AN EMER AND SQUAWKED 7700 AND STATED INTENTIONS ON 121.50. I WASN'T SURE IF THE RADIO CALLS WERE HEARD; BUT FIGURED THE SQUAWK WOULD BE SEEN. I REMAINED IN VMC AND DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST ARPT. I FINALLY RESTORED ENOUGH BATTERY PWR TO MAKE A XMISSION TO ATC WHICH HANDED ME OFF TO TWR. THE TWR ASKED IF I WAS STILL IN AN EMER SIT; AND I SAID NO. I THEN WAS ASKED TO SQUAWK 1200. I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WAS GIVEN A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL. I TALKED TO THE CTR MGR AND HE SAID I DID THE CORRECT THING AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS OK. THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED ALL ELECTRICAL EQUIP WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN TALK TIME TO A MINIMUM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.