Date: 201507
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: CVG.Tower, KY
Light: Night
Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class B CVG
ATC / advisory: Tower CVG
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Ground; Local
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Confusion; Training / Qualification; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Distraction
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
Contributing factors: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Primary problem: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings

Narrative: While working Local and Ground combined; we experienced a total loss of electrical power.  The power attempted to return two times; for only a couple of seconds each time.  I did not have any traffic on my frequency at the time; but was monitoring the progress of a few in our airspace and inbound to HTS.  When the power went out; I immediately turned on the [emergency backup radio] to see if I had radio capabilities.  A minute later; the radar controller came up to the tower to try to use the [emergency backup radio]; as the emergency backup radio in the TRACON did not work.  Since the radar controller needed the [emergency backup radio]; I plugged into the emergency jack (orange) and attempted to transmit.    I could hear the clicking in my ear as if I was going out; but no airplane could hear me.  At this point; I did have an air carrier aircraft on my frequency and inbound; and I was unable to talk to them.  I turned on another transceiver in the tower; but it had no power; apparently due to it being plugged into an outlet that was 'FAA'.  I unplugged the transceiver and plugged it into an outlet on the wall; apparently an 'airport' outlet; and it worked.  With the transceiver on; the aircraft was able to hear me transmit through the orange emergency jack; but with the transceiver off; the aircraft could not hear me.  Apparently the main backup generator was out due to maintenance; and the backup to the backup generator had a dead battery; and thus we did not have power.The amount of equipment that has been out of service or otherwise inoperable since I have arrived at this facility is staggering.  Most of the ATIS broadcast contains a long list of NOTAMS for equipment or lighting outages.  We have no control for the airport lighting from the tower.  Various components of the lighting and communications equipment are in constant disrepair.  For some reason each item being out is rationalized to some problem with funding or money; but the state of facility was quite unacceptable during this power outage; apparently caused by a truck hitting a utility pole a few miles away.  Personally; I am no less than appalled at the lack of maintaining at this airport.  And I can tell that the aircraft operators are less than pleased; as they frequently make comments on frequency about how long certain components have not worked properly.




Synopsis: A CVG Controller reports of losing a total loss of electrical power. The Controller attempts to use the backup radio but it does not work. The Controller plugs the backup radio into a different outlet and it then works. The Controller reports that he/she is appalled at the lack of maintaining the equipment at the airport.