Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 2; Flight Crew Total 663; Flight Crew Type 575
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Gear Up Landing
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft; Equipment / Tooling
Runup on ramp revealed no problems. Everything was normal. I called departure; runway 24. Takeoff was normal. During ascent from runway; all electrical began flickering; and finally died. Total electrical failure. Began orbit in left downwind 24 to troubleshoot. No communication with CTAF in spite of working handheld. No verification of landing gear down possible. Entered left base and final. Executed normal approach. Aircraft landed smoothly on belly No injuries; and no fluids on ground. Aircraft was towed to parking. I believe electrical failure was due to failed alternator or relay. I failed to engage the emergency gear down lever; nevertheless; the emergency gear down extender arm on the empennage failed to drop the gear as well. Also recycling the master switch may have reset the electrical as well.
Aircraft had in flight electrical failure with cause unknown. Pilot stated that the emergency down landing gear system did not work. Pilot landed with landing gear retracted with minimal damage to aircraft. There were no injuries. Maintenance facility raised aircraft off runway & operated emergency gear down system. Landing gear came down & locked. Aircraft towed to hangar for repairs. I performed an annual inspection on [early that year]. Landing gear operated normally on jacks with normal & emergency down system. Log book entries were made to reflect this test. [Weeks before; the] aircraft owner requested that a new battery be installed. I serviced; tested & installed a new battery on that date. Aircraft owner did not supply aircraft log books until [after the incident] to make battery installation entry.
Pilot of PA-28 experienced complete electrical failure after takeoff. Landing gear failed to extend. Pilot made gear-up landing at departure airport with minimal aircraft damage.