A PA-28 pilot reported loss of all electrical power in flight. He chose to divert to a nearby airpor...

Attributes
ACN	900381
Time
Date	201007
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Electrical Power
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10 Flight Crew Total 120 Flight Crew Type 40
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

Narrative:

While flying to [destination] I noticed an abrupt alternator annunciator and within 5 seconds lost electrical power to the aircraft. Immediately; I unplugged my headsets and plugged into a battery powered backup radio. I had [a nearby airport] in sight and chose to land there. I spoke to local traffic and landed safely with no electrical power. Before the failure; I opened a VFR flight plan. Once on the ground a guy from the FBO walked out to verify my tail # then got back on the phone with who he said was center to advise that we were safely on the ground. I then called FSS to advise [them] of the diversion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA-28 pilot reported loss of all electrical power in flight. He chose to divert to a nearby airport using a handheld backup radio.

Narrative: While flying to [destination] I noticed an abrupt alternator annunciator and within 5 seconds lost electrical power to the aircraft. Immediately; I unplugged my headsets and plugged into a battery powered backup radio. I had [a nearby airport] in sight and chose to land there. I spoke to local traffic and landed safely with no electrical power. Before the failure; I opened a VFR flight plan. Once on the ground a guy from the FBO walked out to verify my tail # then got back on the phone with who he said was Center to advise that we were safely on the ground. I then called FSS to advise [them] of the diversion.

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.