Small transport on climb has smoke from left engine.

Attributes
ACN	285433
Time
Date	199410
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cak
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute airway : zob
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 3950 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	285433
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : undershoot
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I was flying a piper navajo, climbing in VFR conditions with an IFR clearance. We had just departed cak and were en route to pne. Cak departure had given us clearance to 8000 ft MSL and handed us off to ZOB. To my recollection, I received clearance to 9000 ft during my first exchange with cleveland. As I was about it respond, I looked at the left engine nacelle and detected smoke coming from the far side of the nacelle. I immediately requested lower, with the intention of landing, and was told to contact pittsburgh. During my first contact with pittsburgh I told them that the left engine was 'smoking,' that I wanted lower, and asked for a vector for the closest airport. I did not declare an emergency. Pittsburgh vectored me towards beaver company. (Bvi) airport, where I landed without incident. During this event, ATC had no complaints with the operation of the aircraft and was quite a help the entire time. My reason for filing this report is a concern that I wasn't at my assigned altitude while initially distraction by the smoke from the engine.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT ON CLB HAS SMOKE FROM L ENG.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING A PIPER NAVAJO, CLBING IN VFR CONDITIONS WITH AN IFR CLRNC. WE HAD JUST DEPARTED CAK AND WERE ENRTE TO PNE. CAK DEP HAD GIVEN US CLRNC TO 8000 FT MSL AND HANDED US OFF TO ZOB. TO MY RECOLLECTION, I RECEIVED CLRNC TO 9000 FT DURING MY FIRST EXCHANGE WITH CLEVELAND. AS I WAS ABOUT IT RESPOND, I LOOKED AT THE L ENG NACELLE AND DETECTED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FAR SIDE OF THE NACELLE. I IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED LOWER, WITH THE INTENTION OF LNDG, AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT PITTSBURGH. DURING MY FIRST CONTACT WITH PITTSBURGH I TOLD THEM THAT THE L ENG WAS 'SMOKING,' THAT I WANTED LOWER, AND ASKED FOR A VECTOR FOR THE CLOSEST ARPT. I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER. PITTSBURGH VECTORED ME TOWARDS BEAVER COMPANY. (BVI) ARPT, WHERE I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. DURING THIS EVENT, ATC HAD NO COMPLAINTS WITH THE OP OF THE ACFT AND WAS QUITE A HELP THE ENTIRE TIME. MY REASON FOR FILING THIS RPT IS A CONCERN THAT I WASN'T AT MY ASSIGNED ALT WHILE INITIALLY DISTR BY THE SMOKE FROM THE ENG.

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.