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TB20 pilot reported an unusual attitude resulted after becoming disoriented on an ILS approach in actual IMC.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1582656 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201809 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Trinidad TB-20 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Approach |
| Route In Use | Vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 330 Flight Crew Type 50 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
I was on an IFR flight plan. I am instrument rated and current. I was flying on autopilot; and had stepped down from 5000 ft to 3000 ft as instructed by ATC. 3000 ft put me in solid IMC with light to moderate turbulence. After approximately 20-30 minutes in IMC I was vectored onto the ILS and transitioned to tower frequency. Shortly after [that] I realized my autopilot was flying through the ILS as the needle became centered then started deflecting. Realizing my autopilot was configured incorrectly I disconnected it and attempted to correct my approach by hand. When I disconnected I must have over corrected because I almost immediately realized I was in an uncoordinated/unusual attitude; descending and turning. After correcting the unusual attitude I realized I was rattled from how fast I became uncoordinated. I advised tower I was breaking off the approach. I had become 'lost' on the ILS and that I was climbing back above the layer. They handed me back to TRACON; who immediately vectored me back to the ILS. I re-entered IMC; and still felt uncomfortable tracking the approach; so I again climbed above the layer. This time I was still with TRACON; so I asked to switch to VFR flight and assumed an easterly heading in VMC on top. After collecting my nerves; and troubleshooting my system I requested vectors back to the ILS; re-entered IMC and successfully navigated the approach; [and] broke out of clouds at approximately 1000 ft AGL. In retrospect; I should have requested vectors away from the ILS to have time to set up for the approach after my first missed. Since this incident; I've booked more time with a cfii to actively seek IMC to fly in. I'm instituting regular practice on my home simulator and I have also redoubled my efforts to understand every mode available on my GPS/autopilot to ensure I always know how it's configured; and have done several practice approaches since this incident. It has been a couple of years since I was last in IMC. It was more disorienting than I'd experienced in recent flight with foggles; especially with the turbulence; which caused me to lose; then regain control of the aircraft shortly after beginning to hand fly in IMC.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: TB20 pilot reported an unusual attitude resulted after becoming disoriented on an ILS approach in actual IMC.
Narrative: I was on an IFR flight plan. I am instrument rated and current. I was flying on autopilot; and had stepped down from 5000 FT to 3000 FT as instructed by ATC. 3000 FT put me in solid IMC with light to moderate turbulence. After approximately 20-30 minutes in IMC I was vectored onto the ILS and transitioned to Tower frequency. Shortly after [that] I realized my autopilot was flying through the ILS as the needle became centered then started deflecting. Realizing my autopilot was configured incorrectly I disconnected it and attempted to correct my approach by hand. When I disconnected I must have over corrected because I almost immediately realized I was in an uncoordinated/unusual attitude; descending and turning. After correcting the unusual attitude I realized I was rattled from how fast I became uncoordinated. I advised Tower I was breaking off the approach. I had become 'lost' on the ILS and that I was climbing back above the layer. They handed me back to TRACON; who immediately vectored me back to the ILS. I re-entered IMC; and still felt uncomfortable tracking the approach; so I again climbed above the layer. This time I was still with TRACON; so I asked to switch to VFR flight and assumed an easterly heading in VMC on top. After collecting my nerves; and troubleshooting my system I requested vectors back to the ILS; re-entered IMC and successfully navigated the approach; [and] broke out of clouds at approximately 1000 FT AGL. In retrospect; I should have requested vectors away from the ILS to have time to set up for the approach after my first missed. Since this incident; I've booked more time with a CFII to actively seek IMC to fly in. I'm instituting regular practice on my home simulator and I have also redoubled my efforts to understand every mode available on my GPS/autopilot to ensure I always know how it's configured; and have done several practice approaches since this incident. It has been a couple of years since I was last in IMC. It was more disorienting than I'd experienced in recent flight with foggles; especially with the turbulence; which caused me to lose; then regain control of the aircraft shortly after beginning to hand fly in IMC.
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.