DA40 Diamond Star
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 42; Flight Crew Total 316; Flight Crew Type 264
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors
I was flying a Diamond DA40 with a G1000 over the Grand Canyon at 7;500 feet in VFR conditions when there was a sudden and complete loss of electrical power. I headed the plane to HND. I flew below the Bravo airspace and entered the Delta airspace. I had taken off from HND so I knew that runway 35L was in use. I approached towards the airport tower and did not see any light gun signals from the Tower. I scanned the air and saw no other aircraft in the traffic pattern. I knew I had to land quickly; since I did not have working fuel gauges; there was no heat in the plane; and I wanted to get out of the way quickly of any other traffic. For safety; I wanted the longest runway that I could land on; which was Runway 35L. I also hoped the tower would see me and warn any other traffic. I saw a jet holding short of Runway 35L. I entered the left downwind for 35L at pattern altitude (3;500 feet MSL) and did a short approach to the runway. I did not see any light gun signals. I watched the jet and it appeared to be stationary. Because I did not realize at the time that I did not have flaps; the plane floated over the runway; and I landed on the second half of the runway: I really needed this long runway.I am sorry that I had to enter class Delta airspace without communicating; but I did not have working lights or working radio; and I felt that the longest runway was the safest to land on. I did not see any light gun signals.
A DA40 pilot reported landing at HND without seeing a light gun signal after total loss of electrical power.