A cessna 340 pilot suffered abrupt and uncommanded turns shortly after takeoff due to a malfunctioni...

Attributes
ACN	1031414
Time
Date	201208
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	N07.Airport
State Reference	NJ
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cessna 340/340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Autopilot
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 2670 Flight Crew Type 2000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

IFR flight plan with amended clearance. Take off from lincoln park airport; which is close to newark; was uneventful and initial climb was normal. At about 1;000 ft autopilot began to malfunction; made a number of abrupt uncommanded turns which caused a course deviation. [I] had some directional control issues as a result of autopilot problems. This continued for a short period of time; between 1;000 ft and 2;500 ft during climb. Shut down autopilot; still malfunctioned; and then pulled circuit breaker which resulted in complete deactivation of autopilot. By this point aircraft was off course and; as a result of autopilot problems; badly out of trim. [I] had to throw myself on the mercy of ATC and advise concerning problems. Was given a series of vectors to re-establish aircraft on proper course and [had] to adjust for proper altitude. After re-establishing control of the aircraft; resumed course set forth in flight plan and completed rest of trip without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Cessna 340 pilot suffered abrupt and uncommanded turns shortly after takeoff due to a malfunctioning autopilot on an IFR flight. A complete electrical shutdown of the autopilot allowed control to be regained manually and the flight was completed as planned.

Narrative: IFR flight plan with amended clearance. Take off from Lincoln Park Airport; which is close to Newark; was uneventful and initial climb was normal. At about 1;000 FT autopilot began to malfunction; made a number of abrupt uncommanded turns which caused a course deviation. [I] had some directional control issues as a result of autopilot problems. This continued for a short period of time; between 1;000 FT and 2;500 FT during climb. Shut down autopilot; still malfunctioned; and then pulled circuit breaker which resulted in complete deactivation of autopilot. By this point aircraft was off course and; as a result of autopilot problems; badly out of trim. [I] had to throw myself on the mercy of ATC and advise concerning problems. Was given a series of vectors to re-establish aircraft on proper course and [had] to adjust for proper altitude. After re-establishing control of the aircraft; resumed course set forth in flight plan and completed rest of trip without incident.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

A cessna 340 pilot suffered abrupt and uncommanded turns shortly after takeoff due to a malfunctioning autopilot on an IFR flight. A complete electrical shutdown of the autopilot allowed control to be regained manually and the flight was completed as planned.