Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 7100; Flight Crew Type 1500
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Company Policy
Arriving at an airport on a short IFR flight I had been cleared for the visual approach to runway 19. Approach mentioned that they had lost my Mode C; so I tried resetting the transponder without success. I contacted the Tower and was cleared to make the left base to 19. Seconds after receiving that transmission my radios went dark. Realizing that I had a total electrical failure; I reverted to non-radio procedures and made an upwind toward the Tower so I could observe the light signals. As I was cranking the gear down I received the solid green light and entered a left downwind for 19 and completed the circuit for an uneventful landing on 19. During the taxi to the FBO I was able to energize the emergency circuit; regaining my radios and contacted ground. They took my phone number and I proceeded to park the plane.This incident was caused by my failure to turn on both alternators after engine start; which caused the battery to run down. At the urging of one of our mechanics; I had recently adopted the new practice of turning on the alternators after starting each engine; presumably to preserve the alternators. Perhaps I was tired and/or distracted; but I totally failed to comply with my new checklist/flow routine. Furthermore; every pilot is or should be on edge about navigating through [busy] airspace. Consequently; I was distracted from my normal full cockpit scan; by which I would have quickly noticed a discharging battery and the faulty position of both alternator switches.Lessons learned:1. Go back to turning on both alternator switches along with battery switch for engine starts; coinciding with POH/AFM guidance; by the way.2. Close adherence to checklist items.3. Concentrate on full cockpit scan; especially in busy; complicated airspace.
A C-402 Pilot forgot to turn the alternators ON after engine start because of a procedural change to leave them off until after engine start and when nearing his destination lost all electrical power with dead batteries. He discovered his error after landing and establish communications with ATC.