Narrative:

Operating part 91 on a repos flight; approximately 2 hours en route; I encountered an electrical problem that I could not identify via the electrical panel. After some self diagnosis; we disconnected the #3 generator. Once the generator was brought back on line; all electrical inconsistencies disappeared. I had to go to an alternate airport due to windshear at my destination. I did not make an entry into the logbook due to the fact that after everything was restored on the electrical panel; there was nothing to write up -- all system were working normally. I also was under company pressure to get the aircraft to its destination. If I had written up the aircraft at its alternate destination; maintenance would not have been able to service the aircraft and it would have delayed flts down the line for an undeterminable amount of time. Besides; there was an aircraft mechanic on board the aircraft and witnessed all of the irregularities and suggested no action. The mechanic tested all aspects that he knew about the electrical system the following day and could not find any problems. After discussing the incident with my fleet manager; I realized that I should have written the aircraft up. I was reminded that any time we have to disconnect a generator to troubleshoot an electrical problem; it should be noted in the logbook.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC10 DEVELOPED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DURING CRUISE. FLT CREW DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED THE GENERATOR; AND POWER WAS RESTORED. THE ANOMALY WAS NOT 'WRITTEN UP' AFTER LNDG.

Narrative: OPERATING PART 91 ON A REPOS FLT; APPROX 2 HRS ENRTE; I ENCOUNTERED AN ELECTRICAL PROB THAT I COULD NOT IDENT VIA THE ELECTRICAL PANEL. AFTER SOME SELF DIAGNOSIS; WE DISCONNECTED THE #3 GENERATOR. ONCE THE GENERATOR WAS BROUGHT BACK ON LINE; ALL ELECTRICAL INCONSISTENCIES DISAPPEARED. I HAD TO GO TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT DUE TO WINDSHEAR AT MY DEST. I DID NOT MAKE AN ENTRY INTO THE LOGBOOK DUE TO THE FACT THAT AFTER EVERYTHING WAS RESTORED ON THE ELECTRICAL PANEL; THERE WAS NOTHING TO WRITE UP -- ALL SYS WERE WORKING NORMALLY. I ALSO WAS UNDER COMPANY PRESSURE TO GET THE ACFT TO ITS DEST. IF I HAD WRITTEN UP THE ACFT AT ITS ALTERNATE DEST; MAINT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SVC THE ACFT AND IT WOULD HAVE DELAYED FLTS DOWN THE LINE FOR AN UNDETERMINABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. BESIDES; THERE WAS AN ACFT MECH ON BOARD THE ACFT AND WITNESSED ALL OF THE IRREGULARITIES AND SUGGESTED NO ACTION. THE MECH TESTED ALL ASPECTS THAT HE KNEW ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYS THE FOLLOWING DAY AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBS. AFTER DISCUSSING THE INCIDENT WITH MY FLEET MGR; I REALIZED THAT I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN THE ACFT UP. I WAS REMINDED THAT ANY TIME WE HAVE TO DISCONNECT A GENERATOR TO TROUBLESHOOT AN ELECTRICAL PROB; IT SHOULD BE NOTED IN THE LOGBOOK.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.