A cessna pilot experiences an HSI failure while IMC. The pilot seeks ATC's help and lands uneventful...

Attributes
ACN	602656
Time
Date	200312
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : heg.ndb
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 2100
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : jax.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other ndb
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 780 flight time type : 290
ASRS Report	602656
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued advisory controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At approximately XA30 (local), while on an IFR flight plan from gnv to heg, I experienced failure of my HSI while on the GPS runway 25 approach. This took a few mins to recognize and when it was idented, our course was noted to have changed from 070 degrees to 150 degrees. I notified jax approach and told them I had an HSI failure and requested a no gyro vectors approach for the GPS runway 25 at heg. The next several mins were notable for my difficulty to maintain my course and altitude assignments. I did receive 1 altitude alert. The controller wanted to vector me 10 mi out for a second try. I was afraid that continued flight with multiple turns would lead to spatial disorientation. I insisted I could get back on course. The controller cleared me for the approach, I got back on course and landed uneventfully. I broke out of the clouds at approximately 800 ft MSL and was able to cancel my IFR flight plan.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CESSNA PLT EXPERIENCES AN HSI FAILURE WHILE IMC. THE PLT SEEKS ATC'S HELP AND LANDS UNEVENTFULLY.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA30 (LCL), WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM GNV TO HEG, I EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF MY HSI WHILE ON THE GPS RWY 25 APCH. THIS TOOK A FEW MINS TO RECOGNIZE AND WHEN IT WAS IDENTED, OUR COURSE WAS NOTED TO HAVE CHANGED FROM 070 DEGS TO 150 DEGS. I NOTIFIED JAX APCH AND TOLD THEM I HAD AN HSI FAILURE AND REQUESTED A NO GYRO VECTORS APCH FOR THE GPS RWY 25 AT HEG. THE NEXT SEVERAL MINS WERE NOTABLE FOR MY DIFFICULTY TO MAINTAIN MY COURSE AND ALT ASSIGNMENTS. I DID RECEIVE 1 ALT ALERT. THE CTLR WANTED TO VECTOR ME 10 MI OUT FOR A SECOND TRY. I WAS AFRAID THAT CONTINUED FLT WITH MULTIPLE TURNS WOULD LEAD TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. I INSISTED I COULD GET BACK ON COURSE. THE CTLR CLRED ME FOR THE APCH, I GOT BACK ON COURSE AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. I BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT APPROX 800 FT MSL AND WAS ABLE TO CANCEL MY IFR FLT PLAN.

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.

A cessna pilot experiences an HSI failure while IMC. The pilot seeks ATC's help and lands uneventfully.