A C501 corp single pilot, departing pdk, responded to an inverter problem.

Attributes
ACN	573726
Time
Date	200302
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ttd.airport
State Reference	OR
Altitude	agl single value : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p80.tracon tower : ttd.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Citation I/SP
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp technician : powerplant technician : airframe
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 3950 flight time type : 990
ASRS Report	573726
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Alternate departure instructions were given prior to takeoff. 300 ft after takeoff, I was told to contact departure. Upon establishing communications with pdx departure, I was told to change squawk code. As I was resetting the transponder, I lost the #1 inverter, which caused the AC electric fail light to come on. This, in turn, set off the master caution. The ADI rolled over and failed along with the HSI. I cancelled the master caution alarm and selected #2 inverter. I was told to turn to 190 degree heading, after takeoff, out of 1000 ft. Due to equipment failure and high terrain, I chose to turn left to an area of lower terrain and a known fix ('btg' VOR). I was preparing to declare an emergency, when I looked over to the copilot's HSI, which was operational. At that point, I steered the aircraft using the copilot's HSI. By this time, I was contacted by ATC and asked which way I was turning. I told them left. They asked which way I was assigned, and I told them right turn to 190 degrees. Then advised them there had been an equipment failure, but the situation was now under control. They vectored me to my assigned route, and I proceeded on to the destination. Rather than turn in to higher terrain, I chose to fly the aircraft and maintain situational awareness to a known procedure and fix.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C501 CORP SINGLE PLT, DEPARTING PDK, RESPONDED TO AN INVERTER PROB.

Narrative: ALTERNATE DEP INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN PRIOR TO TKOF. 300 FT AFTER TKOF, I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT DEP. UPON ESTABLISHING COMS WITH PDX DEP, I WAS TOLD TO CHANGE SQUAWK CODE. AS I WAS RESETTING THE XPONDER, I LOST THE #1 INVERTER, WHICH CAUSED THE AC ELECTRIC FAIL LIGHT TO COME ON. THIS, IN TURN, SET OFF THE MASTER CAUTION. THE ADI ROLLED OVER AND FAILED ALONG WITH THE HSI. I CANCELLED THE MASTER CAUTION ALARM AND SELECTED #2 INVERTER. I WAS TOLD TO TURN TO 190 DEG HDG, AFTER TKOF, OUT OF 1000 FT. DUE TO EQUIP FAILURE AND HIGH TERRAIN, I CHOSE TO TURN L TO AN AREA OF LOWER TERRAIN AND A KNOWN FIX ('BTG' VOR). I WAS PREPARING TO DECLARE AN EMER, WHEN I LOOKED OVER TO THE COPLT'S HSI, WHICH WAS OPERATIONAL. AT THAT POINT, I STEERED THE ACFT USING THE COPLT'S HSI. BY THIS TIME, I WAS CONTACTED BY ATC AND ASKED WHICH WAY I WAS TURNING. I TOLD THEM L. THEY ASKED WHICH WAY I WAS ASSIGNED, AND I TOLD THEM R TURN TO 190 DEGS. THEN ADVISED THEM THERE HAD BEEN AN EQUIP FAILURE, BUT THE SIT WAS NOW UNDER CTL. THEY VECTORED ME TO MY ASSIGNED RTE, AND I PROCEEDED ON TO THE DEST. RATHER THAN TURN IN TO HIGHER TERRAIN, I CHOSE TO FLY THE ACFT AND MAINTAIN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS TO A KNOWN PROC AND FIX.

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.