A PA32 pilot has problems working the GPS in the approach mode.

Attributes
ACN	576623
Time
Date	200303
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mgm.airport
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl.artcc tracon : bhm.tracon tracon : mgm.tracon tower : mgm.tower tower : iah.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-34-200T Turbo Seneca II
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 10 other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 65 flight time total : 7800 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	576623
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On call-up, I was given a descent to 2000 ft and a heading to intercept the ILS runway 10. Close to the final approach fix, I was turned over to the tower. I had the GPS set up for the approach with the right frequency and in approach mode on the GPS, but was not getting the localizer GS bars on the HSI display. I called them outside the outer marker and was cleared for the ILS runway 10, and cleared to land. I noticed on the GPS map page that I was going through the final approach course with still no bars on the HSI display. I was trying different buttons on it to bring them up, but was not having any luck. The tower called and said they showed me south of the localizer. I told them I needed to go missed approach and was given a heading, turn to 180 degrees and maintain 2000 ft, contact mgm approach. Mgm approach gave me vectors back to ILS runway 10. While en route, I was trying to get the localizer and GS brought up on the HSI indicator. After getting back lined up on the ILS and close to the final approach fix again, I told mgm that I was not receiving the localizer and needed a PAR approach to mgm or maxwell AFB. The controller said he could give me one and gave me a heading to fly and altitude to maintain. Then, after a descent to 1720 ft and then given a descent to 600 ft, we broke out of the overcast about 1300 ft MSL. Mgm approach and tower did an excellent job. After getting on the ground and getting with the owner of the aircraft, he went over the procedures for bringing up the CDI display on the HSI. While the GPS system is great, I would recommend that when you select an ILS frequency and the system is in the approach mode, that you observe that the CDI needles display automatically. Needless to say, I will be more familiar with the system the next time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA32 PLT HAS PROBS WORKING THE GPS IN THE APCH MODE.

Narrative: ON CALL-UP, I WAS GIVEN A DSCNT TO 2000 FT AND A HDG TO INTERCEPT THE ILS RWY 10. CLOSE TO THE FINAL APCH FIX, I WAS TURNED OVER TO THE TWR. I HAD THE GPS SET UP FOR THE APCH WITH THE RIGHT FREQ AND IN APCH MODE ON THE GPS, BUT WAS NOT GETTING THE LOC GS BARS ON THE HSI DISPLAY. I CALLED THEM OUTSIDE THE OUTER MARKER AND WAS CLRED FOR THE ILS RWY 10, AND CLRED TO LAND. I NOTICED ON THE GPS MAP PAGE THAT I WAS GOING THROUGH THE FINAL APCH COURSE WITH STILL NO BARS ON THE HSI DISPLAY. I WAS TRYING DIFFERENT BUTTONS ON IT TO BRING THEM UP, BUT WAS NOT HAVING ANY LUCK. THE TWR CALLED AND SAID THEY SHOWED ME S OF THE LOC. I TOLD THEM I NEEDED TO GO MISSED APCH AND WAS GIVEN A HDG, TURN TO 180 DEGS AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT, CONTACT MGM APCH. MGM APCH GAVE ME VECTORS BACK TO ILS RWY 10. WHILE ENRTE, I WAS TRYING TO GET THE LOC AND GS BROUGHT UP ON THE HSI INDICATOR. AFTER GETTING BACK LINED UP ON THE ILS AND CLOSE TO THE FINAL APCH FIX AGAIN, I TOLD MGM THAT I WAS NOT RECEIVING THE LOC AND NEEDED A PAR APCH TO MGM OR MAXWELL AFB. THE CTLR SAID HE COULD GIVE ME ONE AND GAVE ME A HDG TO FLY AND ALT TO MAINTAIN. THEN, AFTER A DSCNT TO 1720 FT AND THEN GIVEN A DSCNT TO 600 FT, WE BROKE OUT OF THE OVCST ABOUT 1300 FT MSL. MGM APCH AND TWR DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. AFTER GETTING ON THE GND AND GETTING WITH THE OWNER OF THE ACFT, HE WENT OVER THE PROCS FOR BRINGING UP THE CDI DISPLAY ON THE HSI. WHILE THE GPS SYS IS GREAT, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WHEN YOU SELECT AN ILS FREQ AND THE SYS IS IN THE APCH MODE, THAT YOU OBSERVE THAT THE CDI NEEDLES DISPLAY AUTOMATICALLY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE SYS THE NEXT TIME.

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.