Pilot of an small aircraft sel aircraft momentarily lost control of the aircraft during an instrument approach due to encountering turbulent thunderstorm WX and deviated from assigned altitude and heading.

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Attributes
ACN	242469
Time
Date	199305
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdk
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	242469
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : regained aircraft control
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

When I checked in with atl approach, the controller said that there was a thunderstorm on top of pdk, but the ceiling was 2300 ft with northwest winds of 15 KTS. I elected to press on and hit a cell 18 mi east of pdk and broke out of the WX at 5-7 DME. After the IAF, I was to maintain 2500 ft until the FAF. I was in rain, turbulence and lightning and momentarily dropped to 2300 ft or 2400 ft MSL and got a low altitude alert from atl approach. In the midst of turbulence, heavy rain and lightning, my full attention was required to simply try to keep the aircraft right side up. It was very difficult to try and fly the aircraft and brief the approach procedure. I got behind the airplane in this severe WX environment. ATC was helpful in issuing the low altitude alert and in calling me left and right of course as the aircraft rolled and pitched down in the turbulence. Besides the WX factor, I experienced an autoplt excursion. With the heading bug set at 270 degrees, the autoplt turned to 300 degrees before I disabled it

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL ACFT MOMENTARILY LOST CTL OF THE ACFT DURING AN INST APCH DUE TO ENCOUNTERING TURBULENT TSTM WX AND DEVIATED FROM ASSIGNED ALT AND HDG.

Narrative: WHEN I CHKED IN WITH ATL APCH, THE CTLR SAID THAT THERE WAS A TSTM ON TOP OF PDK, BUT THE CEILING WAS 2300 FT WITH NW WINDS OF 15 KTS. I ELECTED TO PRESS ON AND HIT A CELL 18 MI E OF PDK AND BROKE OUT OF THE WX AT 5-7 DME. AFTER THE IAF, I WAS TO MAINTAIN 2500 FT UNTIL THE FAF. I WAS IN RAIN, TURB AND LIGHTNING AND MOMENTARILY DROPPED TO 2300 FT OR 2400 FT MSL AND GOT A LOW ALT ALERT FROM ATL APCH. IN THE MIDST OF TURB, HVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING, MY FULL ATTN WAS REQUIRED TO SIMPLY TRY TO KEEP THE ACFT RIGHT SIDE UP. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TRY AND FLY THE ACFT AND BRIEF THE APCH PROC. I GOT BEHIND THE AIRPLANE IN THIS SEVERE WX ENVIRONMENT. ATC WAS HELPFUL IN ISSUING THE LOW ALT ALERT AND IN CALLING ME L AND R OF COURSE AS THE ACFT ROLLED AND PITCHED DOWN IN THE TURB. BESIDES THE WX FACTOR, I EXPERIENCED AN AUTOPLT EXCURSION. WITH THE HDG BUG SET AT 270 DEGS, THE AUTOPLT TURNED TO 300 DEGS BEFORE I DISABLED IT

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.