Enroute controller described loss of communications and radar contact with VFR general aviation airc...

Attributes
ACN	815295
Time
Date	200812
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 19 controller time certified in position1 : 4
ASRS Report	815295
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was working aircraft X; a training flight to ZZZ. When I attempted to switch the aircraft to my next frequency; the aircraft seemed to have trouble reading the frequency back. I was unsure at that time if the pilot was having trouble understanding english. The aircraft was having difficulty reading back transmissions. He attempted to check on the new frequency but was getting loud squeals in their transmissions. Shortly after this time lost radar contact with the aircraft. I told the pilot I had lost their transponder. Over the next 15 minutes; it became obvious the pilot was having some kind of problem with the aircraft. With the assistance of other aircraft to turn on the lighting at a nearby airport; and transmissions in the blind; aircraft X was able to land safely at ZZZ1. A local sheriff drove to the airport and verified that the aircraft had landed safely; and that they had experienced an alternator failure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Enroute Controller described loss of communications and radar contact with VFR general aviation aircraft; resulting in unplanned landing at alternate airport; aircraft experienced alternator failure.

Narrative: I was working Aircraft X; a training flight to ZZZ. When I attempted to switch the aircraft to my next frequency; the aircraft seemed to have trouble reading the frequency back. I was unsure at that time if the Pilot was having trouble understanding English. The aircraft was having difficulty reading back transmissions. He attempted to check on the new frequency but was getting loud squeals in their transmissions. Shortly after this time lost radar contact with the aircraft. I told the Pilot I had lost their transponder. Over the next 15 minutes; it became obvious the Pilot was having some kind of problem with the aircraft. With the assistance of other aircraft to turn on the lighting at a nearby airport; and transmissions in the blind; Aircraft X was able to land safely at ZZZ1. A local sheriff drove to the airport and verified that the aircraft had landed safely; and that they had experienced an alternator failure.

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.

Enroute controller described loss of communications and radar contact with VFR general aviation aircraft; resulting in unplanned landing at alternate airport; aircraft experienced alternator failure.