An M20E pilot lost all electrical power on descent for approach and used a hand-held GPS as backup.

Attributes
ACN	808426
Time
Date	200810
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 E Super 21
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	808426
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Lost all communications after approach gave me a heading of 310 degrees. All electrical power was lost. Hand-held GPS 496 was used to get on the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN M20E PILOT LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER ON DESCENT FOR APPROACH AND USED A HAND-HELD GPS AS BACKUP.

Narrative: LOST ALL COMS AFTER APCH GAVE ME A HDG OF 310 DEGS. ALL ELECTRICAL PWR WAS LOST. HAND-HELD GPS 496 WAS USED TO GET ON THE GND.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.