Loss of electrical power caused a PA31 pilot to descend and divert to a nearby airbase.

Attributes
ACN	834284
Time
Date	200904
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo/Chieftan/Mojave/T1040
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Electrical Power
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8 Flight Crew Total 2800 Flight Crew Type 60
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

Flying at FL230; lost electric power including battery. Used attitude indicator and compass to descend. At approximately 5000 ft MSL noticed long runway through large gap in scattered clouds. Descended below cloud base; made a visual landing at an air base. Recharged battery; reset alternator line circuit breakers. Noted battery now charging positive. Filed flight plan; received clearance and departed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Loss of electrical power caused a PA31 pilot to descend and divert to a nearby airbase.

Narrative: Flying at FL230; lost electric power including battery. Used attitude indicator and compass to descend. At approximately 5000 FT MSL noticed long runway through large gap in scattered clouds. Descended below cloud base; made a visual landing at an air base. Recharged battery; reset alternator line circuit breakers. Noted battery now charging positive. Filed flight plan; received clearance and departed.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.