Cheetah; Tiger; Traveler AA5 Series
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 300; Flight Crew Type 180
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
While cruising at 4;000 MSL the ALT light came on and we decided to turn back to the airport. Then I observed that the ammeter was pegged at plus 60 AMPS. I told my student to turn the alternator switch off and he did. Then I smelled an electrical burning smell. I shut the master switch off at that time and decided to make a precautionary off field landing as quickly as possible. No persons were injured during the landing. The aircraft was not damaged during the landing. No private property was damaged during the landing.
An AA5A Instructor pilot and his student made an emergency off airport landing when the ammeter pegged high followed quickly by burning electrical odors in the cockpit. No injuries to the occupants nor damage to the airplane were incurred.