Pilot of a cessna C340 experienced an electrical problem while IFR resulting in deviation from track...

Attributes
ACN	400850
Time
Date	199804
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sxc airport : smx
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 340/340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	400850
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After takeoff from santa maria, ca (en route to san diego lindbergh field) electrical failure caused several circuit breakers to pop, disabling pilot's directional gyro and autoplt. PIC attempted to reset circuit breakers with intermittent success. PIC ultimately required to reference copilot instruments to complete flight. Dealing with these equipment problems caused loss of situational awareness at several points along route of flight. Pilot reported difficulties to ATC controllers at several points along route. Most serious problem occurred at 35 NM, 295 degree radial sxc as pilot was being vectored to avoid hot restr areas. Autoplt failure caused course deviation and approximately 1500 ft altitude loss. Pilot recovered and proceeded to sxc and via victor 208 and 23 mi to lindbergh field. PIC very conscientious about maintenance. Recent problems with the avionics were thought corrected after multiple visits of aircraft to avionics shop. PIC had recent instrument competency check which helped with this difficult flight situation. Not much more could be done by PIC to prevent problem that occurred. Aircraft in shop on apr/xa/98 to make repairs to avionics. ATC was helpful in assisting PIC in regaining situational awareness and ensuring safety of flight. Patient was being transported to hospital. He arrived safely and on time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A CESSNA C340 EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL PROB WHILE IFR RESULTING IN DEV FROM TRACK AND ALT DUE TO LOSS OF THE AUTOPLT AND CAPT'S DIRECTIONAL GYRO. HOWEVER, ARTCC CTLR HELPED RPTR RETURN TO HIS ORIGINAL COURSE AND ALT.

Narrative: AFTER TKOF FROM SANTA MARIA, CA (ENRTE TO SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH FIELD) ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED SEVERAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS TO POP, DISABLING PLT'S DIRECTIONAL GYRO AND AUTOPLT. PIC ATTEMPTED TO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH INTERMITTENT SUCCESS. PIC ULTIMATELY REQUIRED TO REF COPLT INSTS TO COMPLETE FLT. DEALING WITH THESE EQUIP PROBS CAUSED LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AT SEVERAL POINTS ALONG RTE OF FLT. PLT RPTED DIFFICULTIES TO ATC CTLRS AT SEVERAL POINTS ALONG RTE. MOST SERIOUS PROB OCCURRED AT 35 NM, 295 DEG RADIAL SXC AS PLT WAS BEING VECTORED TO AVOID HOT RESTR AREAS. AUTOPLT FAILURE CAUSED COURSE DEV AND APPROX 1500 FT ALT LOSS. PLT RECOVERED AND PROCEEDED TO SXC AND VIA VICTOR 208 AND 23 MI TO LINDBERGH FIELD. PIC VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT MAINT. RECENT PROBS WITH THE AVIONICS WERE THOUGHT CORRECTED AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS OF ACFT TO AVIONICS SHOP. PIC HAD RECENT INST COMPETENCY CHK WHICH HELPED WITH THIS DIFFICULT FLT SIT. NOT MUCH MORE COULD BE DONE BY PIC TO PREVENT PROB THAT OCCURRED. ACFT IN SHOP ON APR/XA/98 TO MAKE REPAIRS TO AVIONICS. ATC WAS HELPFUL IN ASSISTING PIC IN REGAINING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND ENSURING SAFETY OF FLT. PATIENT WAS BEING TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. HE ARRIVED SAFELY AND ON TIME.

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.

Pilot of a cessna C340 experienced an electrical problem while IFR resulting in deviation from track and altitude due to loss of the autoplt and captain's directional gyro. However, ARTCC controller helped reporter return to his original course and altitude.