An MD80 flight crew flew through their assigned altitude when they were distracted by an electrical ...

Attributes
ACN	809758
Time
Date	200809
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 10300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	controller military : 8.5 controller radar : 18 flight time last 90 days : 425 flight time total : 12500 flight time type : 10700
ASRS Report	809758
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical altitude deviation : overshoot
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Just after takeoff from ZZZ; we experienced a right generator malfunction. This caused multiple failures at the right generator cycled back and forth between the left (good) generator and back to the right generator. Autoplt; autothrottle; and associated flight mode annunciations (FMA's) including but not limited to altitude capture were lost during these electrical cycles. The initial climb clearance altitude of 10000 ft MSL was exceeded by 300 ft. We asked if we could remain at 10000 ft and troubleshoot the problem. We restored the electrical system; recovered all instruments and continued the flight to ZZZ1. I asked the departure controller if there were any conflicts with other aircraft; and he replied there were none.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 FLT CREW FLEW THROUGH THEIR ASSIGNED ALT WHEN THEY WERE DISTRACTED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

Narrative: JUST AFTER TKOF FROM ZZZ; WE EXPERIENCED A R GENERATOR MALFUNCTION. THIS CAUSED MULTIPLE FAILURES AT THE R GENERATOR CYCLED BACK AND FORTH BTWN THE L (GOOD) GENERATOR AND BACK TO THE R GENERATOR. AUTOPLT; AUTOTHROTTLE; AND ASSOCIATED FLT MODE ANNUNCIATIONS (FMA'S) INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ALT CAPTURE WERE LOST DURING THESE ELECTRICAL CYCLES. THE INITIAL CLB CLRNC ALT OF 10000 FT MSL WAS EXCEEDED BY 300 FT. WE ASKED IF WE COULD REMAIN AT 10000 FT AND TROUBLESHOOT THE PROB. WE RESTORED THE ELECTRICAL SYS; RECOVERED ALL INSTS AND CONTINUED THE FLT TO ZZZ1. I ASKED THE DEP CTLR IF THERE WERE ANY CONFLICTS WITH OTHER ACFT; AND HE REPLIED THERE WERE NONE.

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.

An MD80 flight crew flew through their assigned altitude when they were distracted by an electrical problem.