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A CE501 pilot reported attitude indicator failure with auto pilot engaged in IMC. Recovery from the steep turning descent was initiated using the turn needle and the aircraft was climbed to VMC before diverting to a VMC airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1055459 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201212 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Citation I/SP (C501) |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Attitude Indicator(Gyro/Horizon/ADI) |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 61 Flight Crew Total 10150 Flight Crew Type 830 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control |
Narrative:
[I] received clearance via cell phone while on ramp. Completed checklist and took-off on runway 31 and initiated climb to 6;000 ft. At approximately 3;000 ft engaged yaw dampener and autopilot in heading mode. Contacted center and received clearance to 'turn on-course' and climb to flight level 230. Initiated left turn with heading bug of approximately 100 degrees toward final 'on course' heading and proceeded to change the altitude pre-select (located just right of panel center) from 6;000 ft to FL230 and re-arm. Sensed problem; speed was rapidly increasing and dg was spinning too fast for a standard rate turn; vsi indicated rapid descent airspeed rapidly increasing and attitude indicator abnormal. Confirmed autopilot was still engaged and continuing to roll aircraft. Disconnected autopilot and assumed manual control. Attitude indicator did not correspond to input. [I] confirmed left turn with turn needle. Rolled aircraft right until turn needle moved right and dg stabilized and pulled aircraft from dive to prevent ground impact. [I] continued climbing to top of cloud layer. Notified center of failed attitude indicator and asked for clearance to nearest VFR airport. Proceeded to VFR airport and landed. No injuries to any passengers onboard.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A CE501 pilot reported attitude indicator failure with auto pilot engaged in IMC. Recovery from the steep turning descent was initiated using the turn needle and the aircraft was climbed to VMC before diverting to a VMC airport.
Narrative: [I] received clearance via cell phone while on ramp. Completed checklist and took-off on Runway 31 and initiated climb to 6;000 FT. At approximately 3;000 FT engaged yaw dampener and autopilot in heading mode. Contacted Center and received clearance to 'turn on-course' and climb to flight level 230. Initiated left turn with heading bug of approximately 100 degrees toward final 'on course' heading and proceeded to change the altitude pre-select (located just right of panel center) from 6;000 FT to FL230 and re-arm. Sensed problem; speed was rapidly increasing and DG was spinning too fast for a standard rate turn; VSI indicated rapid descent airspeed rapidly increasing and attitude indicator abnormal. Confirmed autopilot was still engaged and continuing to roll aircraft. Disconnected autopilot and assumed manual control. Attitude indicator did not correspond to input. [I] confirmed left turn with turn needle. Rolled aircraft right until turn needle moved right and DG stabilized and pulled aircraft from dive to prevent ground impact. [I] continued climbing to top of cloud layer. Notified Center of failed attitude indicator and asked for clearance to nearest VFR airport. Proceeded to VFR airport and landed. No injuries to any passengers onboard.
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.