Narrative:

While taking off from la guardia airport on sep/sun/91 for a scheduled 121 air carrier, we were on an IFR flight plan. Taking off on runway 13 we were to follow the standard instrument departure. After positive rate, I had called for gear retraction. While the gear retracted our right generator went off. At 500 ft AGL a red light illuminated on our warning panel. The SID called for a turn from runway heading of 130 degree to 175 degree until 2.5 NM from the lga VOR. By the time we had idented the problem we were already 4 NM from the field before we made the turn to 040 degree as per the SID. While in the turn on course the controller asked us if we knew we were supposed to turn. We told him we knew the SID and we were in the process of turning. Being PIC we were still running through the checklist, reducing electrical loads, and determining whether to continue or return for a landing. The controller handed us off. We continued our flight. The generator came back on line. Traveling at 3 NM per min, I had made the mistake of being distraction for 45 seconds. My first responsibility was to fly and navigation, but with 30 souls on board I had to totally evaluate whether to continue into the upcoming IMC or stay VFR. I learned a good lesson.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LTT FAILED TO FOLLOW SID OUT OF LGA. FLC DISTR BY GENERATOR FAILURE.

Narrative: WHILE TAKING OFF FROM LA GUARDIA ARPT ON SEP/SUN/91 FOR A SCHEDULED 121 AIR CARRIER, WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. TAKING OFF ON RWY 13 WE WERE TO FOLLOW THE STANDARD INST DEP. AFTER POSITIVE RATE, I HAD CALLED FOR GEAR RETRACTION. WHILE THE GEAR RETRACTED OUR R GENERATOR WENT OFF. AT 500 FT AGL A RED LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON OUR WARNING PANEL. THE SID CALLED FOR A TURN FROM RWY HDG OF 130 DEG TO 175 DEG UNTIL 2.5 NM FROM THE LGA VOR. BY THE TIME WE HAD IDENTED THE PROBLEM WE WERE ALREADY 4 NM FROM THE FIELD BEFORE WE MADE THE TURN TO 040 DEG AS PER THE SID. WHILE IN THE TURN ON COURSE THE CTLR ASKED US IF WE KNEW WE WERE SUPPOSED TO TURN. WE TOLD HIM WE KNEW THE SID AND WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING. BEING PIC WE WERE STILL RUNNING THROUGH THE CHKLIST, REDUCING ELECTRICAL LOADS, AND DETERMINING WHETHER TO CONTINUE OR RETURN FOR A LNDG. THE CTLR HANDED US OFF. WE CONTINUED OUR FLT. THE GENERATOR CAME BACK ON LINE. TRAVELING AT 3 NM PER MIN, I HAD MADE THE MISTAKE OF BEING DISTR FOR 45 SECONDS. MY FIRST RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO FLY AND NAV, BUT WITH 30 SOULS ON BOARD I HAD TO TOTALLY EVALUATE WHETHER TO CONTINUE INTO THE UPCOMING IMC OR STAY VFR. I LEARNED A GOOD LESSON.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.