Sundowner 23
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 2000; Flight Crew Type 12
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Diverted; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
I departed ZZZ at XA:10 with the intention of flying to nearby ZZZ1 for takeoff and landing practice. I made a normal takeoff and climb remaining under the ZZZ2 Class B airspace; but within the Class C veil; and ultimately climbed to 3000 feet MSL to clear the mountain ridge. After clearing the ridge; I decided to do some training maneuvers at altitude and began some clearing turns. At that time; I noticed my Garmin 430W; my primary nav/com and GPS receiver; had gone dark. Shortly after that; my second nav/com went dark. The ammeter showed a discharge. I tried to reset the alternator; but there was no effect. At that time; I elected to divert to ZZZ3; an uncontrolled airport nearby. My transponder was apparently still squawking on the ZZZ4 code; and I had ADS-B In traffic displayed on my iPad until I was within five miles of ZZZ3; and the transponder went dark as well. I lost my ADS-B traffic display on the iPad as a result; but was able to discern the runway in use from the traffic in the pattern. I entered a wide downwind leg for Runway XX; and made a normal approach and landing on Runway XX at approximately XA:35. There were no traffic conflicts at any time during the flight. Our maintenance shop at ZZZ3 confirmed the alternator had failed and it was replaced over the next few days.To the best of my knowledge; my transponder was squawking Modes A and C and ADS-B Out through the entire flight while in the Mode C veil. I lost power to the transponder just before entering the traffic pattern at ZZZ3.
BE-23 pilot reported that an alternator failure caused the loss of most of the aircraft's communication and navigation systems in-flight.