Super King Air 200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 7; Flight Crew Total 12350; Flight Crew Type 2350
Troubleshooting; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Immediately after takeoff the #1 inverter failed. I inadvertently switched off the avionics master instead of the inverter switch I was intending to bring the backup inverter online. As we were in a turn to assigned heading and just starting to enter the clouds; I reduced power to stop the climb and stay below the clouds and continue back towards airport while I sorted things out. I saw the airport and by that time had my avionics back and had switched to the other inverter. I contacted the Tower and informed them I had an electrical problem and was requesting to return for landing. I was in a little too tight to land on runway XX which was the runway I had just taken off from so I requested to enter a left downwind for runway XY as there was basically no winds. The ceiling I believe was probably ragged between 500-700 feet above the ground...approximately 1100-1300 MSL. I got a little low on the downwind leg and received numerous 'don't sink ' warnings but didn't want to climb back up the extra 100-200 feet for fear I might pop in the clouds as I wasn't exactly sure what the bases were in the confusion of the moment. Visibility was good and I am based at ZZZ and am aware of the surroundings. That being the case I elected to continue at my present altitude of 1000 feet (400 AGL) turn base and final and land which I did uneventfully. I probably should have climbed up a little but didn't. I was visual the whole time during when the warnings were issued and wasn't too concerned other than to not descend below 1000 feet MSL till on final. The weather was reported to be 1100 broken but I believe it was less. Visibility reported at 3 miles which I would agree with.
BE-200 pilot reported loss of the Number 1 inverter resulted in a return to the departure airport.