Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 175; Flight Crew Type 15
Communication Breakdown; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Weather; Human Factors
I was 2.5 hrs in on a 3.5 hr flight; on an IFR flight plan at 8;000 feet in a C-172M /G at the time of the incident; talking to Montgomery Approach and was south of PRN on my way to PIGON. Suddenly I lost all electrical equipment on board the Cessna 172M. The entire flight had been in scattered conditions; going in and out of the clouds every few minutes. I kept flying the airplane; while trying to get my Electronic Flight Bag (an iPAD) running so I could use it for navigation and while I tried to use my handheld radio. Tried to reach Montgomery Approach using the handheld but had no luck transmitting; I was only receiving communications. With no electrical systems there was no means of squawking 7600; even though I tried to do so as I was running the checklist for loss of electrical systems during the recycling of the master switch. I elected to descend VFR to 3;000 feet and did so without entering IMC conditions. Once at 3;000 feet I contacted Flight Service Station using my phone connected via bluetooth with my Bose Headset. Once I got in touch with them I told them of my situation and requested to close my IFR flight plan. Additionally; I requested to be transferred over to Pensacola TRACON; in order to notify them and request to enter and land at my planned destination (PNS). The FSS Controller was very helpful and notified me that Pensacola TRACON would call me on my cell phone in a few minutes. Once in touch with Pensacola TRACON; we exchange some information (altitude and location); and they were able to pick up my primary on radar. They cleared me in to their Class C; and once I was about 20 miles north of PNS I tried using my handheld again and contacted Tower with success. They cleared me to land on Runway 35; and I notified them it was going to be a no flap landing and that it was going to be a longer ground roll.
When the C-172 pilot on an IFR flight plan in scattered cloud conditions; lost essentially all electrical he was able to contact an FSS by cell phone; cancelled his flight plan and arranged a cell contact with the tower upon arrival at his destination.