PA-28R Cherokee Arrow All Series
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 16; Flight Crew Total 466; Flight Crew Type 83
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Software and Automation
While flying on an IFR flight plan from to ZZZ1 at 4;000 feet the Controller contacted me and asked for my altitude. I responded that I was at 4;000 feet and he told me he showed me at 6;600. We had a discussion that resulted in him asking me to turn off the altitude transmitting feature on the GPS. I attempted to do so but was unable and called back to ask about the weather at ZZZ. When I learned I could get in without having to shoot an approach I asked to be vectored and stated that I was not declaring an emergency at the time. I was cleared direct and informed he would call ahead to advise of the situation. I was unable to acknowledge as my Garmin 650 would not transmit; nor would the Narco that's our COMM2. I squawked 7600 and hit IDENT. I was able to hear the controller trying to raise me but couldn't respond. The GPS screen went black about a minute later so I decided to descend to get below the clouds. I continued towards ZZZ with no electronics. I next connected my cell phone to the blue tooth on my headset and called my father who is also a private pilot and asked him to telephone the Tower; tell them I'm requesting priority and that I will be landing on Runway 23 in about 15 minutes and that I was experiencing an electrical failure. I noticed electrical sparks coming from under the co-pilot side of the panel when I was about 2 miles out so I killed the master power and the alternator immediately. My landing was largely uneventful and actually better than I was expecting; given the conditions.
Pilot reported loss of all avionics systems and sparks visible under the copilots panel after turning off the altitude reporting feature of the GPS system; resulting in a diversion an immediate landing.