BE35 pilot reported an IFR flight after an avionics upgrade including a new panel with a complete re...

Attributes
ACN	1457612
Time
Date	201706
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Flight Dynamics Navigation and Safety
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5 Flight Crew Type 1557
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

I was given a deviation from an IFR flight plan that included landing at an airport; with which I was unfamiliar. The time from the deviation directive to entering the instrument approach was short. My airplane had just undergone the insertion of a new panel with a complete reorganization of placement of the instruments; the insertion of a new/used communication radio; plus a new val VOR. Additionally; we had added a new stratus ads in/out transponder to which we had attached foreflight. I was trying to use foreflight for weather information/flight information; IFR maps and approaches. It was difficult for me to fly in moderate to severe turbulence; and strong crosswinds; continue an effective scan; manage new electronics and new placement of instruments and stabilize my approach. Approach control asked me to abort my first approach and on my second approach recommended a diversion to VMC conditions at ZZZ; which I accepted. I continued the flight to ZZZ and landed uneventfully.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE35 pilot reported an IFR flight after an avionics upgrade including a new panel with a complete reorganization of placement of equipment. After the second instrument approach; ATC recommended a diversion to a VFR airport which was accomplished.

Narrative: I was given a deviation from an IFR flight plan that included landing at an airport; with which I was unfamiliar. The time from the deviation directive to entering the instrument approach was short. My airplane had just undergone the insertion of a new panel with a complete reorganization of placement of the instruments; the insertion of a new/used COM radio; plus a new VAL VOR. Additionally; we had added a new stratus ADS in/out transponder to which we had attached Foreflight. I was trying to use Foreflight for weather information/flight information; IFR maps and approaches. It was difficult for me to fly in moderate to severe turbulence; and strong crosswinds; continue an effective scan; manage new electronics and new placement of instruments and stabilize my approach. Approach control asked me to abort my first approach and on my second approach recommended a diversion to VMC conditions at ZZZ; which I accepted. I continued the flight to ZZZ and landed uneventfully.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.