Narrative:

IFR flight plan was filed to traverse city, mi, from I78 (union county airport, marysville, oh). After taking off from item 78, union county airport in marysville, oh, en route to traverse city, mi, in our small transport and being controled by the columbus departure frequency 120.2, we were instructed to climb to 4000 ft and then to 8000 ft. Approximately 20 mi south of mansfield, we were continuing on our climb when the event happened. Immediately after takeoff and until conversing with mansfield, oh, approach control, we were having alternator trouble. First, the left alternator quit, a warning light came on. I turned if off, turned the right one on, and reversed the situation because in an small transport series this will often correct it. I had the sequence set approximately 3 times and in so doing, passed through 8000 ft up to approximately 8200 ft. I recognized my mistake and descended back to 8000 ft. At the same time, the mansfield, oh, controller called it to my attention and asked for my altimeter setting. I had neglected to change the altimeter setting from the columbus controller or had set it wrongly because the altimeter read 2901 on the pilot's side. The copilot instrument was also set at that same setting. The actual setting was 30.11. The mansfield controller said that I had exceeded 300 ft and I had recognized that I had exceeded the 8000 ft by 150-200 ft. The altimeter setting would account for the rest. Ultimately I was able to balance the alternators. They both were functioning and we continued on our trip. The day was clear, VFR flight was possible, but in this type of aircraft I usually go IFR. In the future, as in the past, I will attempt to be more careful with altitude instructions and follow up. The incident occurred because I became preoccupied with the alternators to the detriment of the altitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT EQUIP PROB DISTRACTS PLT, ALTDEV ALT OVERSHOT IN CLB.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED TO TRAVERSE CITY, MI, FROM I78 (UNION COUNTY ARPT, MARYSVILLE, OH). AFTER TAKING OFF FROM ITEM 78, UNION COUNTY ARPT IN MARYSVILLE, OH, ENRTE TO TRAVERSE CITY, MI, IN OUR SMT AND BEING CTLED BY THE COLUMBUS DEP FREQ 120.2, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 4000 FT AND THEN TO 8000 FT. APPROX 20 MI S OF MANSFIELD, WE WERE CONTINUING ON OUR CLB WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF AND UNTIL CONVERSING WITH MANSFIELD, OH, APCH CTL, WE WERE HAVING ALTERNATOR TROUBLE. FIRST, THE L ALTERNATOR QUIT, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I TURNED IF OFF, TURNED THE R ONE ON, AND REVERSED THE SIT BECAUSE IN AN SMT SERIES THIS WILL OFTEN CORRECT IT. I HAD THE SEQUENCE SET APPROX 3 TIMES AND IN SO DOING, PASSED THROUGH 8000 FT UP TO APPROX 8200 FT. I RECOGNIZED MY MISTAKE AND DSNDED BACK TO 8000 FT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE MANSFIELD, OH, CTLR CALLED IT TO MY ATTN AND ASKED FOR MY ALTIMETER SETTING. I HAD NEGLECTED TO CHANGE THE ALTIMETER SETTING FROM THE COLUMBUS CTLR OR HAD SET IT WRONGLY BECAUSE THE ALTIMETER READ 2901 ON THE PLT'S SIDE. THE COPLT INST WAS ALSO SET AT THAT SAME SETTING. THE ACTUAL SETTING WAS 30.11. THE MANSFIELD CTLR SAID THAT I HAD EXCEEDED 300 FT AND I HAD RECOGNIZED THAT I HAD EXCEEDED THE 8000 FT BY 150-200 FT. THE ALTIMETER SETTING WOULD ACCOUNT FOR THE REST. ULTIMATELY I WAS ABLE TO BAL THE ALTERNATORS. THEY BOTH WERE FUNCTIONING AND WE CONTINUED ON OUR TRIP. THE DAY WAS CLR, VFR FLT WAS POSSIBLE, BUT IN THIS TYPE OF ACFT I USUALLY GO IFR. IN THE FUTURE, AS IN THE PAST, I WILL ATTEMPT TO BE MORE CAREFUL WITH ALT INSTRUCTIONS AND FOLLOW UP. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE I BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH THE ALTERNATORS TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE ALT.

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.