ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 131847
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| Date: | Sunday 20 June 1999 |
| Time: | 22:20 LT |
| Type: |  Cessna 172M |
| Owner/operator: | Plus One Flyers Inc. |
| Registration: | N61560 |
| MSN: | 17264640 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1974 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 10412 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-320-E2D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | San Diego, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | (KMYF) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
During a practice instrument approach on a dark night, the aircraft began losing electrical power. The airplane was over a low cloud layer and the pilot cancelled his IFR clearance, informed ATC that he was losing electrical power and that he would fly back to home base under visual flight rules. He then flew in a southerly direction, following roads until he decided that he had flown far enough to locate his home airport. He was unable to locate the airport, made a 180-degree turn in an attempt to locate another airport, and found that he was unsure of his position. He elected to land on a large well-lit parking lot and collided with concrete barriers during the landing roll. An automotive alternator was found installed on the airplane, with a nonapproved support bracket that allowed for pulley misalignment, slack belt tension, and excessive vibration. The voltage regulator, alternator, and associated wiring harnesses were removed for functional testing. The voltage regulator and the alternator as separate units passed functional tests. The power input connector on the regulator fit loosely and allowed an intermittent electrical connection. Failure of the connection would allow the alternator to cease operating. A month prior to the accident, in response to pilot reports of intermittent low system output, a mechanic removed the alternator for repair. The automotive shop that performed the work found the unit had an acceptable voltage output, but the amperage was low. A diode in the bridge rectifier was replaced and the mechanic reinstalled the alternator on the engine. The mechanic said the alternator had been on the airplane for several years and 'it never occurred to [him] to check the Type Certificate Data Sheet' to ensure the alternator was approved for airplanes.
Probable Cause: The mechanic's improper installation of nonapproved automotive electrical system parts, and his failure to ensure that all electrical connections were secure during the reinstallation, which resulted in the failure of the electrical system. The pilot's becoming lost and disoriented during the subsequent attempt to find an airport on the dark night flight was a factor.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX99LA221
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 21-Dec-2016 19:25 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 14-Dec-2017 08:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Apr-2024 19:43 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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