BE35 pilot reports autopilot failing to capture the localizer during an ILS approach then entering a...

Attributes
ACN	1108624
Time
Date	201308
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	LBE.Airport
State Reference	PA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Compass (HSI/ETC)
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 75 Flight Crew Total 947 Flight Crew Type 75
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control

Narrative:

While flying to lbe received vectors to ILS 23. Controller provided vectors just outside zinta intersection. After loading approach and activating vectors to final I was cleared for the ILS 23 at or above 4;200 ft. As I approached the intercept to the ILS 23 the auto pilot failed to capture the ILS. While trying to determine issue the aircraft entered an unusual attitude. I disconnected the ap and recovered the aircraft from the unusual attitude. During the recovering I lost approximately 500 ft of altitude which triggered the controller to state there was an altitude alert. I immediately climbed to 4;200 ft and tried unsuccessfully to capture ILS 23. After another attempt at the ILS 23 as well as GPS 23 I determined the sandel HSI has not allowing the crs pointer to be set to the correct course. I then requested to climb to 7;000 ft to get out of IMC and a direct heading to return. After returning I landed in VFR conditions. I scheduled a time to have the sandel 3308 checked and the unit was found to have a course pointer malfunction.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE35 pilot reports autopilot failing to capture the localizer during an ILS approach then entering an unusual attitude. The autopilot is disconnected and the aircraft returned to assigned altitude but the ILS is unsuccessful. A second attempt is also unsuccessful along with a GPS approach and the reporter returns to his home airport in VMC. The HSI is found to have a course selection anomaly.

Narrative: While flying to LBE received vectors to ILS 23. Controller provided vectors just outside Zinta intersection. After loading approach and activating vectors to final I was cleared for the ILS 23 at or above 4;200 FT. As I approached the intercept to the ILS 23 the auto pilot failed to capture the ILS. While trying to determine issue the aircraft entered an unusual attitude. I disconnected the AP and recovered the aircraft from the unusual attitude. During the recovering I lost approximately 500 FT of altitude which triggered the Controller to state there was an altitude alert. I immediately climbed to 4;200 FT and tried unsuccessfully to capture ILS 23. After another attempt at the ILS 23 as well as GPS 23 I determined the Sandel HSI has not allowing the CRS pointer to be set to the correct course. I then requested to climb to 7;000 FT to get out of IMC and a direct heading to return. After returning I landed in VFR conditions. I scheduled a time to have the Sandel 3308 checked and the unit was found to have a course pointer malfunction.

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.