M20 pilot reported diverting due to an alternator failure.

Attributes
ACN	1739846
Time
Date	202004
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	M-20 F Executive 21
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Component
Aircraft Component	AC Generator/Alternator
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 29.3 Flight Crew Total 384.8 Flight Crew Type 302.4
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor

Narrative:

Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes into flight; during cruise; there was an over voltage indication. While trouble shooting the issue; there was a pop noise and a puff of smoke from the right side under the glare shield. The smoke did not continue on after the initial pop. [Advised ATC]; shed all non essential electric load; pulled the alternator circuit breaker; received vectors toward closest airfield and landed safely. Landing gear; flaps; and boost pump all worked normal with battery power.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20 pilot reported diverting due to an alternator failure.

Narrative: Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes into flight; during cruise; there was an over voltage indication. While trouble shooting the issue; there was a pop noise and a puff of smoke from the right side under the glare shield. The smoke did not continue on after the initial pop. [Advised ATC]; shed all non essential electric load; pulled the alternator CB; received vectors toward closest airfield and landed safely. Landing gear; flaps; and boost pump all worked normal with battery power.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.