A piper PA-32 pilot reported inadvertently turning off the avionics master switch while reaching for...

Narrative:

I was on [an] IFR flight plan [to] mez. This was uneventful until the final approach segment of RNAV (GPS) runway 17 approach at mez (destination). I had entered and remained in IMC at approximately 5;500 feet MSL.the first part of the approach from IAF garke; inbound turn at davde; FAF at gosbe went as planned. Shortly after passing the next fix; natbe; I reached for the throttle control to make a power adjustment. The air was turbulent and caused my hand to bump the avionics master switch located just to the left of the throttle control on my panel. This completely and immediately shut off all of the avionics. I immediately flipped the switch back on; but everything had to reboot from scratch.in the meantime; I was still in solid IMC. I called a missed approach with memphis center and proceeded to climb. Although I had briefed the approach procedure beforehand; I erroneously made a climbing right turn instead of the published climbing left turn. I proceeded to missed approach point/IAF davde (outbound) where I performed a procedure turn to re-establish on the inbound approach course. Strong winds and turbulence at that time made it challenging to maintain course; altitude and airspeed; but I was able to establish a stabilized approach by the time of reaching davde (inbound). I entered VMC at approximately 1;900 feet MSL and made an uneventful landing at mez.the root cause of this event was the accidental/unexpected shutdown of my avionics inside the final approach fix and the subsequent distractions I encountered getting this corrected while trying to maintain control of the aircraft (single pilot) in turbulent IMC conditions. I am going to investigate having a protective switch cover placed over the avionics master switch.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Piper PA-32 pilot reported inadvertently turning off the avionics master switch while reaching for the throttle inside the final approach fix on an RNAV approach in IMC. A right turn was executed incorrectly instead of the published left turn on the subsequent missed approach.

Narrative: I was on [an] IFR flight plan [to] MEZ. This was uneventful until the final approach segment of RNAV (GPS) RWY 17 approach at MEZ (destination). I had entered and remained in IMC at approximately 5;500 feet MSL.The first part of the approach from IAF GARKE; inbound turn at DAVDE; FAF at GOSBE went as planned. Shortly after passing the next fix; NATBE; I reached for the throttle control to make a power adjustment. The air was turbulent and caused my hand to bump the avionics master switch located just to the left of the throttle control on my panel. This completely and immediately shut off all of the avionics. I immediately flipped the switch back on; but everything had to reboot from scratch.In the meantime; I was still in solid IMC. I called a missed approach with Memphis Center and proceeded to climb. Although I had briefed the approach procedure beforehand; I erroneously made a climbing right turn instead of the published climbing left turn. I proceeded to MISSED APPROACH POINT/IAF DAVDE (outbound) where I performed a procedure turn to re-establish on the inbound approach course. Strong winds and turbulence at that time made it challenging to maintain course; altitude and airspeed; but I was able to establish a stabilized approach by the time of reaching DAVDE (inbound). I entered VMC at approximately 1;900 feet MSL and made an uneventful landing at MEZ.The root cause of this event was the accidental/unexpected shutdown of my avionics inside the final approach fix and the subsequent distractions I encountered getting this corrected while trying to maintain control of the aircraft (single pilot) in turbulent IMC conditions. I am going to investigate having a protective switch cover placed over the avionics master switch.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1513813
Time
Date	201801
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	MEZ.Airport
State Reference	AR
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Cockpit Furnishing
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11 Flight Crew Total 485 Flight Crew Type 485
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

A piper PA-32 pilot reported inadvertently turning off the avionics master switch while reaching for the throttle inside the final approach fix on an RNAV approach in IMC. A right turn was executed incorrectly instead of the published left turn on the subsequent missed approach.