Narrative:

After departing msp and at our cruise altitude of 16000 ft MSL, the left AC generator caution light illuminated. We followed the QRH and cycled the AC generator switch. After leaving the AC generator switch off for 1-2 mins, the AC generator functioned normally. Approximately 10 mins later and after turning the left propeller heat on, the AC generator once again kicked off line. We again followed QRH procedures and successfully returned the AC generator on line. The AC generator functioned normally for the rest of the flight (approximately 30 mins and under our applied heavy load). On the in-range call to dsm, I communicated with the station and told them not to board the passenger just yet, because I would need to first call maintenance control. They asked if they should call contract maintenance. I told them not to because I would need to call maintenance control first. I explained the situation to maintenance control, and told them everything was functioning properly and had been for the last portion of the flight. We had no write-up and maintenance agreed with me that it was safe to return to msp. I then talked to dispatch and told them that we were good to return to msp. He then cleared that with the supervisor of maintenance control and we were dispatched to msp without mishap.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A SAAB 340 IN CRUISE AT 16000 FT EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT OP OF THE L AC GENERATOR. QRH PROCS WERE USED AND NORMAL GENERATOR OP RESTORED.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING MSP AND AT OUR CRUISE ALT OF 16000 FT MSL, THE L AC GENERATOR CAUTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WE FOLLOWED THE QRH AND CYCLED THE AC GENERATOR SWITCH. AFTER LEAVING THE AC GENERATOR SWITCH OFF FOR 1-2 MINS, THE AC GENERATOR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. APPROX 10 MINS LATER AND AFTER TURNING THE L PROP HEAT ON, THE AC GENERATOR ONCE AGAIN KICKED OFF LINE. WE AGAIN FOLLOWED QRH PROCS AND SUCCESSFULLY RETURNED THE AC GENERATOR ON LINE. THE AC GENERATOR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY FOR THE REST OF THE FLT (APPROX 30 MINS AND UNDER OUR APPLIED HVY LOAD). ON THE IN-RANGE CALL TO DSM, I COMMUNICATED WITH THE STATION AND TOLD THEM NOT TO BOARD THE PAX JUST YET, BECAUSE I WOULD NEED TO FIRST CALL MAINT CTL. THEY ASKED IF THEY SHOULD CALL CONTRACT MAINT. I TOLD THEM NOT TO BECAUSE I WOULD NEED TO CALL MAINT CTL FIRST. I EXPLAINED THE SIT TO MAINT CTL, AND TOLD THEM EVERYTHING WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND HAD BEEN FOR THE LAST PORTION OF THE FLT. WE HAD NO WRITE-UP AND MAINT AGREED WITH ME THAT IT WAS SAFE TO RETURN TO MSP. I THEN TALKED TO DISPATCH AND TOLD THEM THAT WE WERE GOOD TO RETURN TO MSP. HE THEN CLRED THAT WITH THE SUPVR OF MAINT CTL AND WE WERE DISPATCHED TO MSP WITHOUT MISHAP.

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.