CHI94LA054

The airplane lost all electrical power during a night cross country flight, and the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing at a nearby airport. During final, the pilot was unable to find his flashlight. According to the pilot, the airplane hit the runway before he had expected it to. The pilot's most recent night experience in the airplane was 4 months before the accident. The pilot stated that he had not performed any night landings without the aid of instrument and/or cockpit lighting. Inspection of the airplane's electrical system revealed that the alternator was not capable of producing a charge. The alternator's commutator brushes and brush mounts were worn below manufacturer's tolerances. Ther commutator was covered with a black oily substance, and black dust covered the brush mounts and portions of the commutator.

On December 12, 1993, at 2000 central standard time (CST), a Piper PA-28R-200, N66CS, registered to the Flying Country Club, Incorporated, of Coal Valley, Illinois, and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a hard landing onto runway 13 (2,200' X 50' dry asphalt) at the Marshall County Airport, Lacon, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Champaign, Illinois, at 1900 CST.

The pilot's written statement on NTSB Form 6120.1/2 revealed the airplane lost all electrical power while enroute to the pilot's destination. The pilot stated he planned on making a precautionary landing at the Marshall County Airport after observing the rotating beacon and runway lights. According to his statement, "Lights for the longer runway went out while I was on downwind, so I circled to land on Runway 18."

While on final approach for runway 18 the pilot was unable to determine if the landing gear was extended and locked. He could not locate a misplaced flashlight and said he had to land without reference to the flight instruments. According to the pilot, "The nose hit the runway when I touched down. At the time, I assumed that the nosewheel had not deployed." He said he was not certain if he landed in a nose down attitude or landed hard.

During an interview the pilot stated the airplane touched down before he had expected it to. He was asked if he had ever performed night approaches and landings without the aid of cockpit and instrument lighting. He stated he had not had that type of experience. According to the pilot, his last night flight in the accident airplane was on August 31, 1993, 1.3 hours of dual.

Examination of the airplane's electrical system revealed the alternator was not capable of producing a charge. The alternator's commutator brushes and respective mounts were machined below their normal size. A black, oily substance covered the commutator, and a black dust covered the brush mounts and portions of the commutator. The remainder of the electrical system was found to be within the manufacturer's tolerances.

Airframe damage to N66CS consisted of the nose landing gear separated at its trunion mount, both main landing gear mounts damaged at their respective attach points-- separated ribs, sheared rivets, buckled main spar at both main landing gear attach points, and wing skin wrinkling on the upper and lower wing surfaces adjacent to the main landing gear leg attach points.