In 2003, mechanical and maintenance were the major cause of 15% of all GA accidents, and 7.5% of fatal accidents

Typically, one mistake or failure—a precipitating event—leads to another in a cascading series of malfunctions and mistakes, culminatiing in an accident. This is called the accident chain.

By any calculation, the average pilot could fly many, many lifetimes without having an accident of any sort, let alone a much more rare fatal mishap.

In 2003, electrical/ignition failures accounted for 3% of all accidents, and 0% of fatal accidents.

2004 Nall Report

  
 

CIRRUS Monthly Proficiency Program
3 part series on IFR operations
August – Part 1: Electrical Systems



Electrical System Abnormalities (continued)
 Volt/Amp Meter (continued)

NOTE: To check voltage on the batteries, put the toggle switch in the BATT position.

  • If you are on the ground, remember that you can only select BATT voltage when the alternators are off. To check BAT 2 voltage, BAT 1 must be off; to check BAT 1 voltage, BAT 2 must be off.
  • If you are in flight and the toggle switch is in the BATT position, remember the voltage/amp meter is always indicating BAT 1 current flow only.


 Whenever you experience an in-flight emergency, you most likely can resolve the problem by undoing the last thing that you did. For example, if you turned on your pitot heat and it tripped the ALT 1 circuit breaker, shut off the pitot heat and reset the alternator. Undoing what you have done may resolve the problem.

 

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