Had an interesting experience with flight following today
Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:40 am
Also learned not to forget my portable radio. About a month ago my mechanic and I had replaced the sprag clutch on my Rotax 912. Since then I done about 3+ hours of flying local to make sure everything was good. Today I was planning to fly from Long Island NY to Princeton, NJ. I take off from KHWV and contact ATC for flight following. About 5 minutes into my flight my electrical system fails. Silly me did not remember my portable radio. So I turn out towards the beach(in case I have to land) and back to KHWV. Landed uneventfully. Of course then my cell phone starts ringing off the hook. Two different NY approaches call me to see if I'm OK. Then the Coast Guard calls. Then Boston Center. The local police went to my house and my wife is now calling me. At about this time one of the local PD's helicopters is flying over the field. It lands and an officer comes over to talk to me. Of course I'm apologizing up and down for having forgot my portable and not being able to radio my situation. Everyone was cool and glad to hear I was alright. Wife less than enthusiastic. Now to figure out what the problem was.