Cessna 310/T310C
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 3000; Flight Crew Type 100
Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
In flight; total electrical failure in VMC on IFR flight plan. First indication was Center saying they couldn't see my transponder; anymore. When my headset started doing static and GPS flickered; I advised Center I might have pending total electrical failure. It failed shortly thereafter. Going to standby voltage regulator got my radio back; but not the screen; and the radio came up in Guard and an airline flight was trying to relay for me before I lost that a minute later; too. I then lost all cockpit avionics including GPS; moving map; radios; etc. All gauges froze in last position and I was forced to hand crank the landing gear down and land no-flap (non-standard) at the nearest field as I was just about to switch from near empty aux tanks to the mains and was not certain if an electrical relay was needed; so I wondered if I was about to lose the engines; too; with no suitable field to do a forced landing. The gear held upon landing.A mechanic is investigating the voltage regulators and alternators. The batteries were brand new. The ammeter in the older C-310 does not give really accurate info other than flow trends. A voltmeter would be preferred. More frequent inflight checks of electrical system advised; especially IFR. It turns out the fuel valves are mechanical; so I had more fuel (and could have had less stress); but airmanship still dictated landing at the nearest field with total electrical loss.Bottom line; I'm glad I did not overfly a good piece of concrete to find a better one. A handheld transceiver would have been nice; but I might not have had time to use it potentially violating the aviate-navigate-communicate priorities. Backup navigation like iPad very helpful in situations like this.
C310 pilot reported a complete electrical system failure in visual conditions that resulted in a diversion to a nearby airport.