Narrative:

After being cleared for the approach to brandywine N99 the artificial horizon slumped over and directional gyro rotated counter-clockwise. Wind was 45 KTS east. Rain was level 2. Phl approach told me I was off course and to return to mxe VOR and fly the approach over. The frequency was 128.40 and I was given a new frequency, 132.67, and when I entered this frequency the radios went dead. I was headed to mxe VOR. I had previously set the localizer frequency for the ILS into coatsville (40N) in the standby. 40N has 5200 ft whereas brandywine only had 2600 ft of runway. I was having a very difficult time holding pitch. When I saw the localizer needle come alive I flew the ILS inbound, broke out about 1400 ft and made a circling approach into coatsville. I went into the FBO and immediately talked with phl approach and told them I was on the ground at coatsville and what had happened. The following day I pulled the failed radio and discovered it was wet and worked fine after drying. The 2 instruments failed because a new gyro filter had been installed 2 flight hours previously and was not tightened enough and the filter had rotated from vibration a cut off vacuum to those instruments. I did not try to enter the new frequency into the #2 radio. I directed my entire attention to needle, ball and airspeed to try to level the pitch. I am very sorry I tied up phl airspace for a short time but I don't know what else could have been done.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON INST APCH HAS LOSS OF ARTIFICIAL HORIZON AND DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE. RADIOS ALSO DIED.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE APCH TO BRANDYWINE N99 THE ARTIFICIAL HORIZON SLUMPED OVER AND DIRECTIONAL GYRO ROTATED COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. WIND WAS 45 KTS E. RAIN WAS LEVEL 2. PHL APCH TOLD ME I WAS OFF COURSE AND TO RETURN TO MXE VOR AND FLY THE APCH OVER. THE FREQ WAS 128.40 AND I WAS GIVEN A NEW FREQ, 132.67, AND WHEN I ENTERED THIS FREQ THE RADIOS WENT DEAD. I WAS HEADED TO MXE VOR. I HAD PREVIOUSLY SET THE LOC FREQ FOR THE ILS INTO COATSVILLE (40N) IN THE STANDBY. 40N HAS 5200 FT WHEREAS BRANDYWINE ONLY HAD 2600 FT OF RWY. I WAS HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME HOLDING PITCH. WHEN I SAW THE LOC NEEDLE COME ALIVE I FLEW THE ILS INBOUND, BROKE OUT ABOUT 1400 FT AND MADE A CIRCLING APCH INTO COATSVILLE. I WENT INTO THE FBO AND IMMEDIATELY TALKED WITH PHL APCH AND TOLD THEM I WAS ON THE GND AT COATSVILLE AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE FOLLOWING DAY I PULLED THE FAILED RADIO AND DISCOVERED IT WAS WET AND WORKED FINE AFTER DRYING. THE 2 INSTS FAILED BECAUSE A NEW GYRO FILTER HAD BEEN INSTALLED 2 FLT HRS PREVIOUSLY AND WAS NOT TIGHTENED ENOUGH AND THE FILTER HAD ROTATED FROM VIBRATION A CUT OFF VACUUM TO THOSE INSTS. I DID NOT TRY TO ENTER THE NEW FREQ INTO THE #2 RADIO. I DIRECTED MY ENTIRE ATTN TO NEEDLE, BALL AND AIRSPD TO TRY TO LEVEL THE PITCH. I AM VERY SORRY I TIED UP PHL AIRSPACE FOR A SHORT TIME BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE.

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.