Small aircraft pilot has DME fail on VOR DME approach.

Attributes
ACN	225615
Time
Date	199211
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pvd
State Reference	RI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 550 msl bound upper : 550
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pvd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 58 flight time total : 262 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	225615
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Runway 16 VOR/DME approach to providence, ri. WX -- IMC, 600 ft reported ceiling (ragged) 3 mi visibility, light rain and fog. As I descended through 700 ft, I noticed the DME display to go blank. While attending to this, tower asked me my heading, I noticed 220 degrees, tower instructed immediate missed approach, I noticed descent below decision height as I executed missed approach. The WX had been forecast as 1100 ft ceiling and 3 mi visibility. I elected to do the approach even though it was below my personal min as I did not think to ask for the ILS runway 5, which I would have been comfortable with. This was my first flight in moderate-heavy IMC without another pilot sharing the workload (I usually fly with my wife who is a pilot). When the DME failed, I fixated on that problem and failed task #1 'fly the plane.' the next flight I discovered that the attitude indicator was unreliable, vacuum was ok! This may have led to the approximately 60 degree right turn. In retrospect, I should have executed an immediate missed approach when the DME failed, not tried to fix it! Tower had me to the ILS 5, no problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT HAS DME FAIL ON VOR DME APCH.

Narrative: RWY 16 VOR/DME APCH TO PROVIDENCE, RI. WX -- IMC, 600 FT RPTED CEILING (RAGGED) 3 MI VISIBILITY, LIGHT RAIN AND FOG. AS I DSNDED THROUGH 700 FT, I NOTICED THE DME DISPLAY TO GO BLANK. WHILE ATTENDING TO THIS, TWR ASKED ME MY HDG, I NOTICED 220 DEGS, TWR INSTRUCTED IMMEDIATE MISSED APCH, I NOTICED DSCNT BELOW DECISION HEIGHT AS I EXECUTED MISSED APCH. THE WX HAD BEEN FORECAST AS 1100 FT CEILING AND 3 MI VISIBILITY. I ELECTED TO DO THE APCH EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BELOW MY PERSONAL MIN AS I DID NOT THINK TO ASK FOR THE ILS RWY 5, WHICH I WOULD HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH. THIS WAS MY FIRST FLT IN MODERATE-HVY IMC WITHOUT ANOTHER PLT SHARING THE WORKLOAD (I USUALLY FLY WITH MY WIFE WHO IS A PLT). WHEN THE DME FAILED, I FIXATED ON THAT PROBLEM AND FAILED TASK #1 'FLY THE PLANE.' THE NEXT FLT I DISCOVERED THAT THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR WAS UNRELIABLE, VACUUM WAS OK! THIS MAY HAVE LED TO THE APPROX 60 DEG R TURN. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE EXECUTED AN IMMEDIATE MISSED APCH WHEN THE DME FAILED, NOT TRIED TO FIX IT! TWR HAD ME TO THE ILS 5, NO PROBLEM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.