Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 136; Flight Crew Total 12450; Flight Crew Type 15
Distraction; Time Pressure; Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Human Factors; Procedure; Aircraft
While giving instruction; we were performing pattern work at ZZZ. After successfully executing several take off and landings; we were holding short of XXL. The previous three patterns were right traffic patterns. To the best of my knowledge; all other local traffic was also right traffic patterns. We were given clearance to take off; and this time asked to fly left traffic. I initiated a normal takeoff and began to climb out. As we were climbing out; we experienced electrical problems; and the alternator dropped off line. I completed a right turn on crosswind and another right turn onto downwind and leveled at pattern altitude. After we were stabilized on downwind; we performed an alternator reset; and the alternator came back on line. At this time the Tower Controller informed me that I was supposed to make left traffic. I immediately recalled my takeoff instructions at that point; and knew I had made inadvertent right turns during the confusion of the electrical issue. I apologized on the Tower frequency and no further mention was made. We landed uneventfully and as we taxied back to the holding point at XXL; I apologized again. We then executed two more turns in the pattern making right traffic. On the second; and final pattern; we experienced the electrical issue again. And the alternator dropped off line. At this time I informed ZZZ Tower that we were experiencing electrical problems and we needed to land. We declined to [request priority handling]; but the Tower Controllers were outstanding; giving us priority to land. We landed uneventfully. ZZZ Ground asked if we needed any assistance; and I said I believed we did not and taxied to the Hangar. The airplane is currently down for maintenance; to trouble shoot the electrical problem. I believe the confusion of the electrical issue lead to fixation on my part and I defaulted to what we had done the previous three times. We should have ended the flight after the initial electrical occurrence; but we believed it was a one off occurrence. Since we were planning to stay local; I was not writing down the takeoff instructions. In the future; I plan to write down takeoff instructions for all flights.
A Flight Instructor reported a recurring alternator malfunction while conducting pattern work caused them to be distracted and enter right traffic instead of left traffic.