Manage Your Electrons

The first sign of trouble came when the pilots yoke-mounted GPS announced External power lost. Switching to battery. Before the pilot could wrap his head around that, the instrument panel went as dark as the inky night outside. Central Florida is thinly inhabited, offering few ground references. Fighting vertigo but keeping his cool, he knew that his Bonanza was trimmed for straight and level cruise. Using his GPS, he gingerly turned east toward the ocean with well-lit towns and cities hugging the shore, aiming at his home base, Boca Raton airport, KBCT. The engine droned along as if all was right with the world.

Fred Simonds

Sunday, February 11, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot's severe electrical failure during an IFR night flight, despite diligent personal preparation, was exacerbated by fraudulent maintenance, highlighting the critical importance of legitimate upkeep.
Pilots must possess a thorough understanding of their aircraft's electrical system, including battery capacities, alternator operations, and emergency procedures, to effectively manage failures.
Reliable backups like charged flashlights, handheld radios with external antennas, and adherence to maintenance schedules for life-limited components (e.g., standby batteries) are essential for mitigating risks during electrical emergencies.

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The first sign of trouble came when the pilot’s yoke-mounted GPS announced “External power lost. Switching to battery.” Before the pilot could wrap his head around that, the instrument panel went as dark as the inky night outside. Central Florida is thinly inhabited, offering few ground references. Fighting vertigo but keeping his cool, he knew that his Bonanza was trimmed for straight and level cruise. Using his GPS, he gingerly turned east toward the ocean with well-lit towns and cities hugging the shore, aiming at his home base, Boca Raton airport, KBCT. The engine droned along as if all was right with the world.

No Juice—Serious Juju

He did not have to fumble for a flashlight; it was mounted on his forehead. Snapping it on, he went through his electrical system failure checklist. Circuit breakers in, avionics master off, master switch off for 30 seconds and then back on again. Repeat. Nothing. There would be no more electrons from the airplane this night.