SR20
Flight Crew Commercial
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Aircraft
During climb out while performing climb checklist Instructor Pilot noticed that ALT 1 was reading 20V highlighted red; Battery 1 was discharging 14 amps; and an annunciator was illuminated for ALT 1. Immediately asked Tower if we could perform a precautionary landing and was cleared to join downwind; while on downwind ALT 2 annunciator came on and ALT 2 voltage dropped to 22V; Instructor Pilot landed and PUI assisted; during taxi the voltage continued to drop all the way to parking.
SR20 instructor pilot with student; notes an alternator malfunction during climbout and quickly returns to the departure airport after informing the Tower.