Small aircraft pilot advised ATC of possible alternator failure but alternator continued to operate.

Attributes
ACN	225437
Time
Date	199211
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sax
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v39
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3919 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	225437
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight from abe to hvn at 5000 ft when I noticed my ammeter was not charging. Because I was fearful that I would lose radio communication, I notified the controller when I got to a quieter sector. Nothing happened though, and after I became VMC, I cancelled IFR and proceeded to destination. Now I am afraid that FAA will investigate me and the flight, and find something to violate me on. I never lost power or communication capability and the alternator returned to life after a cooling off period (which I never got the chance to tell the controller). I think it is a very unsafe thing to have pilots violated for reporting a 'possible' occurrence. If this becomes publicized, pilots will not ask for help when they really need it! I did not really ask for any assistance or disrupt the flow of traffic in any way. My arrival at hvn was VFR and normal in every way. I had distinct impression controller was making notes to turn me in for investigation. I am sorry I said anything!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ADVISED ATC OF POSSIBLE ALTERNATOR FAILURE BUT ALTERNATOR CONTINUED TO OPERATE.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT FROM ABE TO HVN AT 5000 FT WHEN I NOTICED MY AMMETER WAS NOT CHARGING. BECAUSE I WAS FEARFUL THAT I WOULD LOSE RADIO COM, I NOTIFIED THE CTLR WHEN I GOT TO A QUIETER SECTOR. NOTHING HAPPENED THOUGH, AND AFTER I BECAME VMC, I CANCELLED IFR AND PROCEEDED TO DEST. NOW I AM AFRAID THAT FAA WILL INVESTIGATE ME AND THE FLT, AND FIND SOMETHING TO VIOLATE ME ON. I NEVER LOST PWR OR COM CAPABILITY AND THE ALTERNATOR RETURNED TO LIFE AFTER A COOLING OFF PERIOD (WHICH I NEVER GOT THE CHANCE TO TELL THE CTLR). I THINK IT IS A VERY UNSAFE THING TO HAVE PLTS VIOLATED FOR RPTING A 'POSSIBLE' OCCURRENCE. IF THIS BECOMES PUBLICIZED, PLTS WILL NOT ASK FOR HELP WHEN THEY REALLY NEED IT! I DID NOT REALLY ASK FOR ANY ASSISTANCE OR DISRUPT THE FLOW OF TFC IN ANY WAY. MY ARR AT HVN WAS VFR AND NORMAL IN EVERY WAY. I HAD DISTINCT IMPRESSION CTLR WAS MAKING NOTES TO TURN ME IN FOR INVESTIGATION. I AM SORRY I SAID ANYTHING!

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.