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A C210 charter pilot, flying VFR, entered IMC. Earlier, he had flight instrument fluctuation and would need to revert to an alternate static system.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 460855 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200001 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : sck.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : charter |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Navigation In Use | other other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : charter |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 2750 flight time type : 200 |
| ASRS Report | 460855 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : vsi fluxuation other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : became reoriented |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Weather |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Inadvertent VFR and IMC, level 4500 ft, with ZOA. They said, 'radar contact lost, squawk VFR.' I noticed earlier that my vsi was making sharp swings pegging the meter, indicating that the alternate static source should be turned on. While working the problem, I entered the clouds. At approximately the same time, my vacuum system started fluctuating. I shifted my focus to my electric turn and bank indicator and to my altitude indicator, along with my GPS. I was able to maintain level flight and flew about 15 mins, taking bearings off of stockton VOR and modesto VOR to maintain terrain separation. I then called stockton approach and descended to VFR conditions. I sighted beacon lights and valley city lights. I would have done a 180 degree turn back to VFR, but working the problem with my vacuum and static instruments, and lower terrain ahead, I elected to stay level and proceed to VFR conditions. The WX forecast I received prior to departing gave me a feeling of total VFR along my route. In the future, I would do a 180 degree turn back to VFR and land.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C210 CHARTER PLT, FLYING VFR, ENTERED IMC. EARLIER, HE HAD FLT INST FLUCTUATION AND WOULD NEED TO REVERT TO AN ALTERNATE STATIC SYS.
Narrative: INADVERTENT VFR AND IMC, LEVEL 4500 FT, WITH ZOA. THEY SAID, 'RADAR CONTACT LOST, SQUAWK VFR.' I NOTICED EARLIER THAT MY VSI WAS MAKING SHARP SWINGS PEGGING THE METER, INDICATING THAT THE ALTERNATE STATIC SOURCE SHOULD BE TURNED ON. WHILE WORKING THE PROB, I ENTERED THE CLOUDS. AT APPROX THE SAME TIME, MY VACUUM SYS STARTED FLUCTUATING. I SHIFTED MY FOCUS TO MY ELECTRIC TURN AND BANK INDICATOR AND TO MY ALT INDICATOR, ALONG WITH MY GPS. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLT AND FLEW ABOUT 15 MINS, TAKING BEARINGS OFF OF STOCKTON VOR AND MODESTO VOR TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN SEPARATION. I THEN CALLED STOCKTON APCH AND DSNDED TO VFR CONDITIONS. I SIGHTED BEACON LIGHTS AND VALLEY CITY LIGHTS. I WOULD HAVE DONE A 180 DEG TURN BACK TO VFR, BUT WORKING THE PROB WITH MY VACUUM AND STATIC INSTS, AND LOWER TERRAIN AHEAD, I ELECTED TO STAY LEVEL AND PROCEED TO VFR CONDITIONS. THE WX FORECAST I RECEIVED PRIOR TO DEPARTING GAVE ME A FEELING OF TOTAL VFR ALONG MY RTE. IN THE FUTURE, I WOULD DO A 180 DEG TURN BACK TO VFR AND LAND.
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.