Electrical problem trouble-shooting causes altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	252523
Time
Date	199309
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : slc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	252523
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While my passenger were taking pictures of the islands in the great salt lake, I noticed my 'alternator out' indicator was on. I lost concentration for a few moments during which I may have lost altitude enough to violate minimum safe altitude requirements over the north tip of antelope island. I immediately corrected! I then deemed it necessary to shut down both battery and alternator switches. At this time I was outside of the veil of class B airspace up by promontory point, however, my altitude encoding transponder was turned off. Proceeding north along the west shore line, I switched back on my battery and alternator (after 5-10 mins with them off). At this point my alternator apparently reset ok and I experienced no other trouble the rest of my flight. I am reminded of the adage: 'when you encounter a problem, fly the airplane first!'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ELECTRICAL PROB TROUBLE-SHOOTING CAUSES ALTDEV.

Narrative: WHILE MY PAX WERE TAKING PICTURES OF THE ISLANDS IN THE GREAT SALT LAKE, I NOTICED MY 'ALTERNATOR OUT' INDICATOR WAS ON. I LOST CONCENTRATION FOR A FEW MOMENTS DURING WHICH I MAY HAVE LOST ALT ENOUGH TO VIOLATE MINIMUM SAFE ALT REQUIREMENTS OVER THE N TIP OF ANTELOPE ISLAND. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED! I THEN DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO SHUT DOWN BOTH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR SWITCHES. AT THIS TIME I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE VEIL OF CLASS B AIRSPACE UP BY PROMONTORY POINT, HOWEVER, MY ALT ENCODING XPONDER WAS TURNED OFF. PROCEEDING N ALONG THE W SHORE LINE, I SWITCHED BACK ON MY BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR (AFTER 5-10 MINS WITH THEM OFF). AT THIS POINT MY ALTERNATOR APPARENTLY RESET OK AND I EXPERIENCED NO OTHER TROUBLE THE REST OF MY FLT. I AM REMINDED OF THE ADAGE: 'WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER A PROB, FLY THE AIRPLANE FIRST!'

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.