Accident Piper PA-32R-300 N1750H, Monday 7 November 1983

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Date:	Monday 7 November 1983
Time:	12:42 LT
Type:	Piper PA-32R-300
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N1750H
MSN:	32R-7780189
Year of manufacture:	1977
Total airframe hrs:	1831 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Columbia, SC - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Atlanta, GA (KATL)
Destination airport:	Columbia, SC (KCAE)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
WHILE EN ROUTE, THE ACFT'S AMMETER WENT TO A ZERO READING, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE OCCURRED. PRIOR TO LANDING, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR BY LETTING IT FREEFALL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES. THE GEAR WARNING HORN & GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. DURING THE LANDING, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE ALTERNATOR DRIVE BELT HAD FAILED & THE ACFT BATTERY HAD BECOME DISCHARGED. WITH AN EXTERNAL POWER SOURCE CONECTED, THE LANDING GEAR & INDICATORS FUNCTINED PROPERLY WHEN CHECKED ON THE GROUND.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: