SMT PLT CLBS ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative

CLRED FOR DEP RWY 26L; MAINTAIN RWY HDG; 3000 FT MSL. AFTER DEP; WAS GIVEN 320 HDG. I HAD SET TRIM FOR 140 MPH CLB; WAS SWITCHED TO DEP FREQ 120.7 AND CTLR INDICATED NO TRANSPONDER. I WAS ABOUT TO LEVEL OFF AT 3000 FT MSL WHEN CTLR CALLED; I RESET TRANSPONDER AND SQUAWK CODE. AT THIS POINT I NOTICED I WAS CLBING THROUGH 3700 MSL. THE TRANSPONDER BECAME OPERATIONAL; AND THE CTLR ASKED ME IF I WAS AT 3700 MSL. I AFFIRMED. CTLR TOLD ME I HAD BEEN CLRED TO 3000 FT; AND TO RETURN TO 3000 FT MSL. I TOLD HIM I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN CLRED TO 6000 FT WITH THE R TURN TO 320 DEG. HAD THE TRANSPONDER BEEN OPERATING; I WOULD NOT HAVE FLOWN THROUGH MY ASSIGNED ALT; I BECAME FOCUSED ON THE TRANSPONDER PROBLEM; AND WAS NOT MENTALLY FLYING THE ACFT. I DID NOT FOLLOW THE OLD SAYING; AVIATE; NAVIGATE; COMMUNICATE. ON ALL DEPS FROM PHX; DEP CLRNCS HAD BEEN AMENDED JUST AFTER LIFTOFF. ALL MY VFR DEP CLRNCS FROM PHX HAVE BEEN RWY HDG; MAINTAIN 3000 FT. EVERY TIME AFTER LIFTOFF; I'VE BEEN GIVEN 320 DEG HDG; CLB 6000. I ASSUMED THAT I HAD BEEN GIVEN 6000 FT MSL WITH MY 320 DEG TURN. I DIDN'T HEAR THE AMENDED CLRNC CORRECTLY.