An M20K; in cruise at 6000 ft in IMC conditions; declared an emergency due to loss of vacuum system. With controller's assistance; landing was uneventful.

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Attributes
ACN	697694
Time
Date	200605
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz1.artcc tracon : zzz2.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 K (231)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 41 flight time total : 3150 flight time type : 462
ASRS Report	697694
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : all vacuum indicators failed other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Weather Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Lost vacuum system while IMC on IFR flight plan. Declared an emergency. Controller assigned a private frequency and worked with me on options for landing. Decided on a surveillance approach to ZZZ. Another controller provided no gyro turns and step down altitudes. Broke out at 800 ft AGL and landed without further incident. Controllers were outstanding. Maintenance revealed a failure of the newly installed sigma-tek piston vacuum pump. Pump is warranted for 5 yrs/2000 hours -- failed at 50 hours. New pump was provided by sigma-tek.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the pump was replaced by the manufacturer but they would reveal no details on the failure mode. The airplane had no electrical driven standby attitude indicator but will have shortly as the reporter has purchased one. The reporter stated the reason the report was filed was the vacuum pump that failed is a fairly new product and has no maintenance history.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN M20K; IN CRUISE AT 6000 FT IN IMC CONDITIONS; DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO LOSS OF VACUUM SYSTEM. WITH CTLR'S ASSISTANCE; LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL.

Narrative: LOST VACUUM SYSTEM WHILE IMC ON IFR FLT PLAN. DECLARED AN EMER. CTLR ASSIGNED A PRIVATE FREQ AND WORKED WITH ME ON OPTIONS FOR LNDG. DECIDED ON A SURVEILLANCE APCH TO ZZZ. ANOTHER CTLR PROVIDED NO GYRO TURNS AND STEP DOWN ALTS. BROKE OUT AT 800 FT AGL AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. CTLRS WERE OUTSTANDING. MAINT REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE NEWLY INSTALLED SIGMA-TEK PISTON VACUUM PUMP. PUMP IS WARRANTED FOR 5 YRS/2000 HOURS -- FAILED AT 50 HOURS. NEW PUMP WAS PROVIDED BY SIGMA-TEK.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE PUMP WAS REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WOULD REVEAL NO DETAILS ON THE FAILURE MODE. THE AIRPLANE HAD NO ELECTRICAL DRIVEN STANDBY ATTITUDE INDICATOR BUT WILL HAVE SHORTLY AS THE RPTR HAS PURCHASED ONE. THE RPTR STATED THE REASON THE RPT WAS FILED WAS THE VACUUM PUMP THAT FAILED IS A FAIRLY NEW PRODUCT AND HAS NO MAINT HISTORY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.