Beechcraft A36 pilot reported recovering from an unusual attitude after the autopilot disconnected w...

Attributes
ACN	1653868
Time
Date	201906
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 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 32 Flight Crew Total 6032 Flight Crew Type 528
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control

Narrative:

On my initial climb out I set my autopilot to heading mode and altitude at 3000'. I turned heading to 130 to intercept the [on-course] radial and continued to climb. I was instructed by ATC to continue my climb to 6000'. As I was talking to ATC and setting up altitude changes my autopilot must have disconnected. As I looked back I saw that I had entered an unusual attitude and began a recovery sequence. I recovered the loss of control of the aircraft but had lost significant altitude and my heading was stabilized in somewhat of a westerly direction. I was given further instructions by [ATC] with a vector to intercept the airway. The remainder of my flight to destination was uneventful.I can only add that I am so thankful to the many instructors who schooled me on upset recovery procedures. This was indeed a very sobering experience and has given me a new perspective on IFR flights. Number one lesson learned is to not trust the autopilot without constant monitoring of the flight instruments. Number two; although a successful outcome; I believe I could have controlled loss of altitude better. I practice upset recovery with my instrument students teaching them proper procedures as a cfii but that should not be a substitute for my own personal practice which I will now incorporate in my practice sessions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Beechcraft A36 pilot reported recovering from an unusual attitude after the autopilot disconnected without his knowledge.

Narrative: On my initial climb out I set my autopilot to heading mode and altitude at 3000'. I turned heading to 130 to intercept the [on-course] radial and continued to climb. I was instructed by ATC to continue my climb to 6000'. As I was talking to ATC and setting up altitude changes my autopilot must have disconnected. As I looked back I saw that I had entered an unusual attitude and began a recovery sequence. I recovered the loss of control of the aircraft but had lost significant altitude and my heading was stabilized in somewhat of a westerly direction. I was given further instructions by [ATC] with a vector to intercept the airway. The remainder of my flight to destination was uneventful.I can only add that I am so thankful to the many instructors who schooled me on upset recovery procedures. This was indeed a very sobering experience and has given me a new perspective on IFR flights. Number one lesson learned is to not trust the autopilot without constant monitoring of the flight instruments. Number two; although a successful outcome; I believe I could have controlled loss of altitude better. I practice upset recovery with my instrument students teaching them proper procedures as a CFII but that should not be a substitute for my own personal practice which I will now incorporate in my practice sessions.

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.