Narrative:

Departed runway 14 on ATC clearance heading 220 degrees to maintain 1600 ft. Received turn to 270 degrees and climb to maintain VFR on top of severe broken layer 900 ft bases, 1700 ft tops. At 1800 ft was VFR on top, assigned altitude was 1600 ft. Told tower I was above assigned altitude. Was told to turn right 090 degrees and maintain VFR at 1600 ft, turned over to departure and was immediately cleared to 2500 ft. Everything worked out fine -- no conflicts with other traffic. ATC said deviation was no problem. Cloud tops were 1700 ft -- impossible to maintain VFR at 1600 ft. Malfunctioning HSI was a contributing factor, a distraction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE55 PLT CLBS ABOVE CLRED ALT TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS.

Narrative: DEPARTED RWY 14 ON ATC CLRNC HDG 220 DEGS TO MAINTAIN 1600 FT. RECEIVED TURN TO 270 DEGS AND CLB TO MAINTAIN VFR ON TOP OF SEVERE BROKEN LAYER 900 FT BASES, 1700 FT TOPS. AT 1800 FT WAS VFR ON TOP, ASSIGNED ALT WAS 1600 FT. TOLD TWR I WAS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT. WAS TOLD TO TURN R 090 DEGS AND MAINTAIN VFR AT 1600 FT, TURNED OVER TO DEP AND WAS IMMEDIATELY CLRED TO 2500 FT. EVERYTHING WORKED OUT FINE -- NO CONFLICTS WITH OTHER TFC. ATC SAID DEV WAS NO PROB. CLOUD TOPS WERE 1700 FT -- IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN VFR AT 1600 FT. MALFUNCTIONING HSI WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, A DISTR.

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.