Date: 201901
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: SBN.TRACON, IN
Flight conditions: IMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: PA-31 Navajo/Chieftan/Mojave/T1040
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class E SBN
ATC / advisory: TRACON SBN
Aircraft component: AC Generator/Alternator
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Approach
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Contributing factors: Weather; Human Factors; Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Aircraft X departed EKM airport heading towards ZZZ1 airport. About 9 minutes after departure; the pilot informed me that he was having an electrical issue and wanted to divert to ZZZ. I assigned a vector and descent for the ILS XX approach; the field at the time was IFR with an overcast ceiling of 1;400 feet and 1 1/2 SM visibility. I issued the pilot the approach clearance; but he was unable to fly the approach because he was running on battery only and had no idea where the localizer was. The pilot informed me that the heading indicator was not working; so I informed the pilot that the vectors will be no gyro. I instructed the pilot to start a right turn.A few minutes later; he [requested priority handling]. The pilot had four souls on board and 3 hours of fuel remaining; he also advised he wanted vehicles standing by. For the next few minutes; the pilot struggled to maintain a steady heading; since he lost his instruments and was relying on a compass and myself. Once he was able to maintain a steady heading; I advised him to start a right turn; and successfully turned the pilot on to the localizer. Once he was established; I cleared him to land on XX and advised to contact tower once he was on the ground. The pilot did not start a descent and was a little high for the approach; and went around. I instructed him to climb and maintain 3;000 feet and to remain on his present heading. The pilot informed he was unable to climb and wanted to stay at 1;500 feet. I advised him I couldn't vector him for the approach at 1;500 feet because he was below the MVA (Minimum Vectoring Altitude). The pilot then told me his battery was running out and needed to land; so I approved for him to stay at 1;500 feet and instructed him to start a left turn. The pilot requested to stay close to the airport and set him up for a 2 mile final. I instructed the pilot to continue the left turn and then told him to stop turn once he was lined up for the runway. The pilot reported the runway insight; and I instructed him to continue a slow descent. Aircraft X landed safely. The pilot informed me he landed and explained that he had a dual alternator failure and was running on the battery only and a compass.




Synopsis: SBN TRACON Controller reported assisting an aircraft with an equipment problem to a safe landing.