FLC CLBED THROUGH ASSIGNED ALT. DISTRACTIONS OCCURRED. L MAIN GEAR FELL OUT OF THE WHEELWELL; AND SMOKE ENVELOPED THE COCKPIT.

Narrative

DEPARTED SFO FOR FL230; AT 3500 FT FO WAS COMPLETING AFTER TKOF CHKS (GEAR UP LATCH CHK) WHEN L MAIN LNDG GEAR DROPPED OUT OF WHEELWELL. ATC; AT THIS TIME; STOPPED OUR CLB TO 4000 FT. WE WERE CLBING AT ABOUT 3500 FPM AS WE WERE EMPTY. AS I LEVELED OFF AT 4000 FT ATC CLRED US TO 5000 FT. AS WE WERE NOT QUITE AT 4000 FT I CONTINUED TO CLB. AT ABOUT 4300 FT MSL SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE R SIDE OF FO SEAT. AS THE SMOKE COVERED THE FO AND MY FLT INSTS FROM VIEW; I STARTED TO LEVEL OFF AND PUT THE AUTOPLT AND ALT HOLD. I COULD HEAR CIRCUIT BREAKERS POPPING BEHIND ME. AT ABOUT THIS TIME THE SMOKE CLRED AND I COULD SEE I WAS AT 4900 FT AND CLBING. I PUSHED THE NOSE OVER; WE REACHED 5400 FT AND STARTED BACK TO 5000 FT. ATC ASKED OUR ALT; WE REPLIED AT THAT TIME WE WERE AT 5200 FT. ATC CLRED US TO 7000 FT AND ADVISED US OF TFC AT 5 MI AND CLBING THROUGH 7000 FT. CTR LATER SAID THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. INVESTIGATION SHOWED A LIGHTING PWR SUPPLY HAD SHORTED OUT. AS WE BECAME VFR WE CHOSE TO CONTINUE VFR TO LAX. LNDG WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT.