Narrative:

Received an IFR clearance on ground at 8w5 via remote FSS frequency. Clearance stated 4000 ft cruise altitude with no further expected cruise altitude clearance. Had filed for 6000 ft as I expected this would put me above clouds on departure and en route. Takeoff and climb were in VMC. During climb to 4000 ft I attempted to contact ZDC on assigned frequency but received no reply. Upon approaching 4000 ft, VMC, I further attempted to contact ZDC. I could hear conversation on frequency but still did not receive a reply. I knew from previous experience in this area center had difficulty maintaining radar and radio contact below 5000 ft. If I continued flight at assigned altitude of 4000 ft I would have gone IMC within 3-5 mi. About this time I got an indication that both alternators had failed and also lost my ADF indicator. At this point considering my circumstances, I chose to continue my climb, VFR, to 6500 ft be clear of clouds (on top with 20 plus mi visibility) and attempt to establish radio and radar contact while resetting breakers and shutting down some equipment to conserve battery reserve. Upon reaching approximately 6200 ft radio contact was established with center and I briefly explained to controller what I had done. I was advised I had violated my clearance, asked and confirmed I was VFR. I was told to remain VFR, my clearance was cancelled because I had violated my clearance, but I was not told to change my assigned IFR squawk. I was able to reset and stabilize my alternators. About 10 mins later, the controller issued a new clearance at 6000 ft for the rest of route with original squawk. Flight proceeded and terminated without further incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA LOSES CONTACT WITH ARTCC AND CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: RECEIVED AN IFR CLRNC ON GND AT 8W5 VIA REMOTE FSS FREQ. CLRNC STATED 4000 FT CRUISE ALT WITH NO FURTHER EXPECTED CRUISE ALT CLRNC. HAD FILED FOR 6000 FT AS I EXPECTED THIS WOULD PUT ME ABOVE CLOUDS ON DEP AND ENRTE. TKOF AND CLB WERE IN VMC. DURING CLB TO 4000 FT I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ZDC ON ASSIGNED FREQ BUT RECEIVED NO REPLY. UPON APCHING 4000 FT, VMC, I FURTHER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ZDC. I COULD HEAR CONVERSATION ON FREQ BUT STILL DID NOT RECEIVE A REPLY. I KNEW FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA CTR HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT BELOW 5000 FT. IF I CONTINUED FLT AT ASSIGNED ALT OF 4000 FT I WOULD HAVE GONE IMC WITHIN 3-5 MI. ABOUT THIS TIME I GOT AN INDICATION THAT BOTH ALTERNATORS HAD FAILED AND ALSO LOST MY ADF INDICATOR. AT THIS POINT CONSIDERING MY CIRCUMSTANCES, I CHOSE TO CONTINUE MY CLB, VFR, TO 6500 FT BE CLR OF CLOUDS (ON TOP WITH 20 PLUS MI VISIBILITY) AND ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH RADIO AND RADAR CONTACT WHILE RESETTING BREAKERS AND SHUTTING DOWN SOME EQUIP TO CONSERVE BATTERY RESERVE. UPON REACHING APPROX 6200 FT RADIO CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH CTR AND I BRIEFLY EXPLAINED TO CTLR WHAT I HAD DONE. I WAS ADVISED I HAD VIOLATED MY CLRNC, ASKED AND CONFIRMED I WAS VFR. I WAS TOLD TO REMAIN VFR, MY CLRNC WAS CANCELLED BECAUSE I HAD VIOLATED MY CLRNC, BUT I WAS NOT TOLD TO CHANGE MY ASSIGNED IFR SQUAWK. I WAS ABLE TO RESET AND STABILIZE MY ALTERNATORS. ABOUT 10 MINS LATER, THE CTLR ISSUED A NEW CLRNC AT 6000 FT FOR THE REST OF RTE WITH ORIGINAL SQUAWK. FLT PROCEEDED AND TERMINATED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.