PLT OF A CESSNA C340 EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL PROB WHILE IFR RESULTING IN DEV FROM TRACK AND ALT DUE TO LOSS OF THE AUTOPLT AND CAPT'S DIRECTIONAL GYRO. HOWEVER; ARTCC CTLR HELPED RPTR RETURN TO HIS ORIGINAL COURSE AND ALT.

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AFTER TKOF FROM SANTA MARIA; CA (ENRTE TO SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH FIELD) ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED SEVERAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS TO POP; DISABLING PLT'S DIRECTIONAL GYRO AND AUTOPLT. PIC ATTEMPTED TO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH INTERMITTENT SUCCESS. PIC ULTIMATELY REQUIRED TO REF COPLT INSTS TO COMPLETE FLT. DEALING WITH THESE EQUIP PROBS CAUSED LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AT SEVERAL POINTS ALONG RTE OF FLT. PLT RPTED DIFFICULTIES TO ATC CTLRS AT SEVERAL POINTS ALONG RTE. MOST SERIOUS PROB OCCURRED AT 35 NM; 295 DEG RADIAL SXC AS PLT WAS BEING VECTORED TO AVOID HOT RESTR AREAS. AUTOPLT FAILURE CAUSED COURSE DEV AND APPROX 1500 FT ALT LOSS. PLT RECOVERED AND PROCEEDED TO SXC AND VIA VICTOR 208 AND 23 MI TO LINDBERGH FIELD. PIC VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT MAINT. RECENT PROBS WITH THE AVIONICS WERE THOUGHT CORRECTED AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS OF ACFT TO AVIONICS SHOP. PIC HAD RECENT INST COMPETENCY CHK WHICH HELPED WITH THIS DIFFICULT FLT SIT. NOT MUCH MORE COULD BE DONE BY PIC TO PREVENT PROB THAT OCCURRED. ACFT IN SHOP ON APR/XA/98 TO MAKE REPAIRS TO AVIONICS. ATC WAS HELPFUL IN ASSISTING PIC IN REGAINING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND ENSURING SAFETY OF FLT. PATIENT WAS BEING TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. HE ARRIVED SAFELY AND ON TIME.