Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C; 210D
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 74; Flight Crew Total 16788; Flight Crew Type 300
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Aircraft
I was on an IFR flight plan in level cruise flight at 7;000 squawking altitude when center asked me to confirm my altitude which they said was reporting 11;900 FT. I checked both altimeters which indicated 7;000 and 7;040. I recycled my transponder. Center handed me off to Approach Control and said they would advise my altitude reporting was inaccurate.I could not raise TRACON. At that time my HSI failed with HDG/NAV warnings. The Number 1 Altimeter (electric) also failed. I checked my ALTERNATOR ammeter output which was pulsing -1 to -2. I turned off the beacon and the pulsing stopped but the ammeter still showed a steady -1. I realized I was operating on battery power and was anxious to notify TRACON. I entered 7700 in the transponder and then switched to 7600 after a couple of minutes. I did not want to alter my course non-comm toward the closest airport due to extensive parachute operations.I turned off as much of my electrically powered equipment as possible to conserve battery power. I was able to navigate with an iPad charts program with a battery powered GPS receiver. I maintained 7;000 FT. About 10 minutes later I was able to establish radio contact with the Tower at my destination. I advised them I was IFR and had an EMERGENCY due to electrical failure. They cleared me to enter a right base for Runway 27. At that point everything went totally dark. I used the EMERGENCY checklist and tried to reset the ALTERNATOR and then I hand pumped the gear down. I turned the BATT switch off. One minute prior to landing; I turned the BATT/ALT switch back on and observed a faint GEAR DOWN (Green light) indication. I observed the Tower's GREEN LIGHT and landed on Runway 27. I taxied clear and observed the tower FLASHING GREEN light and taxied to the FBO. Next time I will carry a hand held radio.
The pilot of a C-210 suffered total electrical failure while on an IFR flight plan in VMC. Efforts to minimize the use of electronic equipment preserved sufficient battery power to inform the Tower of the aircraft's arrival and light signals from the Tower were utilized for landing and taxi.