A power conversion apparatus includes a power converter to directly convert AC power having a frequency into AC power having a different frequency. A gate driver drives the power converter. A gate drive signal generator generates a gate drive signal supplied to the gate driver. Two cutoff devices are coupled between the gate driver and the gate drive signal generator, and supply or cut off the gate drive signal to the gate driver based on a command from an external apparatus. At least one of the two cutoff devices generates a feedback signal. An analyzer determines whether the one cutoff device has an abnormality based on the command and the feedback signal. A cutoff controller controls another one of the two cutoff devices to cut off the gate drive signal to the gate driver when the analyzer determines that the one cutoff device has the abnormality.