Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 32000; Flight Crew Type 50
Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
In cruise flight at 6000 feet IMC condition working ZZZ ATC. I had an electrical problem. A battery was replaced as plane would not start. About an hour and a half [later] I noticed Volt meter was going between a high reading to a low reading. I was on autopilot with altitude hold. The aircraft is equipped with an air impact generator which I was trying to deploy; and the generator would not deploy. A jammed cable I think; I had asked to descend to 4000 feet and was given clearance to 4000 feet. The autopilot was acting up. It was turned off. I had started turning off equipment I could do without. Also at this point I had experienced a total electrical failure. The aircraft is equipped with an Aspen display system receiving information from a Garmin 430 so with trying to restore some power I descended to 3600 feet; realized it and immediately returned to 4000 feet. When the controller asked if I was OK; I had made him aware that I was having an electrical problem. The ATC people worked very well with me; I had not flown this plane in a while and dealing with the electrical problems made a very strenuous situation. The backup generator not deploying added to the problem. There was no other aircraft near me. At the time I was cleared to ZZZ1 about a 280 heading at 6000 feet.
A Cessna 182 pilot reported losing all electrical power.