Narrative:

After given a clearance for takeoff from dtw I was given a heading of 310 degrees and a climb to 4000 ft. Shortly upon entering the clouds I realized that my attitude indicator, heading indicator and altitude indicator had failed. I momentarily lost control of the aircraft, causing an ATC deviation, that being a 180 degree turn and a 500 ft loss in altitude. I regained control using copilot's instruments. I was also questioned by ATC and I told them of my predicament. I know that the jet behind me was given a new clearance or deviation because of me. I also know that my controller gave me a new clearance to immediately comply with to avoid a conflict. An immediate climb to 13000 ft and a 220 degree heading. I had to ask for confirmation on this because I was very busy with the aircraft and troubleshooting. I soon discovered an inoperative inverter and switched to backup. This corrected all failures. Upon reaching my destination I was told to call dtw. This I did and I explained in detail what had happened. Dtw did an excellent job in controling the situation. As for myself, one thought about preventing a future occurrence is to xchk my copilot instruments more frequently.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A METRO II PLT TEMPORARILY LOSES CTL OF HIS ACFT WHEN HE LOSES 1 INVERTER FOR HIS FLT INSTS AFTER DEP FROM DTW, MI.

Narrative: AFTER GIVEN A CLRNC FOR TKOF FROM DTW I WAS GIVEN A HDG OF 310 DEGS AND A CLB TO 4000 FT. SHORTLY UPON ENTERING THE CLOUDS I REALIZED THAT MY ATTITUDE INDICATOR, HDG INDICATOR AND ALT INDICATOR HAD FAILED. I MOMENTARILY LOST CTL OF THE ACFT, CAUSING AN ATC DEV, THAT BEING A 180 DEG TURN AND A 500 FT LOSS IN ALT. I REGAINED CTL USING COPLT'S INSTS. I WAS ALSO QUESTIONED BY ATC AND I TOLD THEM OF MY PREDICAMENT. I KNOW THAT THE JET BEHIND ME WAS GIVEN A NEW CLRNC OR DEV BECAUSE OF ME. I ALSO KNOW THAT MY CTLR GAVE ME A NEW CLRNC TO IMMEDIATELY COMPLY WITH TO AVOID A CONFLICT. AN IMMEDIATE CLB TO 13000 FT AND A 220 DEG HDG. I HAD TO ASK FOR CONFIRMATION ON THIS BECAUSE I WAS VERY BUSY WITH THE ACFT AND TROUBLESHOOTING. I SOON DISCOVERED AN INOP INVERTER AND SWITCHED TO BACKUP. THIS CORRECTED ALL FAILURES. UPON REACHING MY DEST I WAS TOLD TO CALL DTW. THIS I DID AND I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL WHAT HAD HAPPENED. DTW DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN CTLING THE SIT. AS FOR MYSELF, ONE THOUGHT ABOUT PREVENTING A FUTURE OCCURRENCE IS TO XCHK MY COPLT INSTS MORE FREQUENTLY.

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.