PRIMARY ELECTRICAL SUPPLY PROBLEM.

Narrative

15 MINS OUT OF BURLINGTON; CO; LEVEL 10000 FT; I EXPERIENCED ABOUT 30 SECONDS OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE; FIRST RECOGNIZED BY THE PITCH OF THE AUTOPLT. AFTER DISENGAGING THE AUTOPLT AND ESTABLISHING LEVEL FLT; ANNUNCIATOR PANEL AND RADIOS FAILED FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS; THEN CAME BACK ON LINE FOR ABOUT 2 MINS. I WAS ABLE TO ADVISE DENVER CTR OF THE PROBLEM. THEY RESPONDED THAT THEY HAD A GOOD PRIMARY RADAR TARGET ON THE ACFT AND TO CONTINUE ON; THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TRACK THE ACFT TO APA. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM AND ENDED UP SHUTTING DOWN THE MASTER. AFTER UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT APA; MECHS FOUND A STAR WASHER SHORTED ACROSS MAG-STARTER SWITCH POLES. ACFT WAS 6 HRS OUT OF PAINT AND UPHOLSTERY. WASHER WAS LOST OFF OF L GENERATOR SWITCH BEHIND PANEL; AND EVENTUALLY WORKED IT'S WAY INTO L MAG-STARTER SWITCH; CAUSING STARTER TO ENGAGE IN FLT RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD (AMP METERS READ 35 AND 40 AMPS). GREMLINS RAN WILD IN AVIONICS; EVEN CAUSING AUDI THROUGH OVERHEAD SPEAKER WHEN AUDIO WAS NOT IN THE SPEAKERS POS. WITHOUT A HIGH VOLTAGE LIGHT OR PANEL BREAKER; IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND PROBLEM IN FLT. THANKFULLY IT WAS GOOD VFR DAY.