Electrical Power Failure

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

T-34C CONTACT

"I MUST LAND IMMEDIATELY" - If it becomes necessary to make an immediate

landing and you have no radios, signal to the aircraft that joins up with you by using your

flashlight. With a lighted flashlight pointed directly towards the other aircraft, rotate the light in

a circular motion similar to your signal to the lineman for start.

1603. NIGHT PRECAUTIONARY EMERGENCY LANDING

The night PPEL is flown with the same checkpoints and airspeeds as the day PPEL (see

NATOPS and Chapter Eight). Aircraft will fly to high key at 2500 feet AGL, wingtip distance

abeam the intended point of landing (the first one-third of the runway).

At high key, make your voice report and turn towards low key using angle of bank as necessary,

passing over the runway at approximately 2000 feet AGL. At low key, 1200 feet AGL,

momentarily level your wings on the attitude gyro and check for a ⅔ wingtip distance (the

middle aileron hinge). Ensure landing lights are on by low key. Landing lights will be used for

all night PPEL training. Report low key in accordance with course rules. Turn towards the 90

position and proceed with your PPEL procedures as in the daytime.

1604. ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURE

Electrical power is of great importance at night because of the need for interior and exterior

lighting, two-way communications, navigational equipment, flight instruments, and landing gear

and flaps. An aircraft with no electrical power is virtually invisible at night. In this case, it is

only the pilot who can maintain his own aircraft separation. For our purposes, we will discuss

only two types of electrical failure: generator failure and complete electrical failure.

Generator Failure. If the generator becomes inoperative, the indications will be a flashing

master caution light, a generator annunciator light, an ammeter discharging, a voltmeter reading

24 volts or less, and a slight dimming of cockpit lights when the voltage drops from 28 volts to

below 24 volts. Perform the appropriate NATOPS procedures. If you are unable to reset the

generator, then the primary consideration is to conserve battery power. The following

procedures shall apply to the appropriate situation.

Landing Pattern. If unable to reset the generator while in the landing pattern, call

for a full stop, stating difficulty and the next time around the pattern, execute a full-

stop landing.

NOTE

Remember that with the exterior lights off, only the pilot can maintain

aircraft separation. You will be invisible to other aircraft. Also, with

both battery and generator off, your pitot static instruments (airspeed

indicator, altimeter, VSI) and wet compass will still function. Engine

instruments that will also function are ITT, N1, and prop RPM. The

attitude gyro, caution panel, RMI, turn and bank, torque, fuel flow,

fuel quantity, oil pressure and oil temperature indicators will not

operate.

16-2 NIGHT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES