The primary vacuum system of a VFR bellanca super viking failed in IMC. The alternate vacuum functioned and the pilot filed IFR receiving a lower clearance to VMC.

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Attributes
ACN	656081
Time
Date	200504
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz1.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Viking
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 1000 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	656081
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Aircraft
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Shortly after takeoff from ZZZ; I realized I was getting into clouds at only 1350 ft (or so I thought from glancing at the altimeter); so I began the process of air filing an IFR flight plan. When I was cleared to climb IMC to 4000 ft; I noticed the altimeter was not moving and the off flag was displayed in the attitude indicator. I reported this to ATC and later; when prompted; declared an emergency. I used the turn coordinator to maintain wings level; then switched to the alternate static source. The altimeter then began to work; and I switched on the autoplt to better improve my situation. The ATC supervisor then came on frequency to advise me that I should be able to get clear of clouds if I descended. I did that and broke out of the clouds at around 3000 ft MSL. I continued to about 2800 ft then headed direct to home base. In retrospect; the failed altimeter went; initially; unnoticed causing me to feel the need to file IFR. Lastly; I was picking the plane up from extensive 'behind the panel' work at the avionics shop. Lesson learned!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE PRIMARY VACUUM SYS OF A VFR BELLANCA SUPER VIKING FAILED IN IMC. THE ALTERNATE VACUUM FUNCTIONED AND THE PLT FILED IFR RECEIVING A LOWER CLRNC TO VMC.

Narrative: SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FROM ZZZ; I REALIZED I WAS GETTING INTO CLOUDS AT ONLY 1350 FT (OR SO I THOUGHT FROM GLANCING AT THE ALTIMETER); SO I BEGAN THE PROCESS OF AIR FILING AN IFR FLT PLAN. WHEN I WAS CLRED TO CLB IMC TO 4000 FT; I NOTICED THE ALTIMETER WAS NOT MOVING AND THE OFF FLAG WAS DISPLAYED IN THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR. I RPTED THIS TO ATC AND LATER; WHEN PROMPTED; DECLARED AN EMER. I USED THE TURN COORDINATOR TO MAINTAIN WINGS LEVEL; THEN SWITCHED TO THE ALTERNATE STATIC SOURCE. THE ALTIMETER THEN BEGAN TO WORK; AND I SWITCHED ON THE AUTOPLT TO BETTER IMPROVE MY SIT. THE ATC SUPVR THEN CAME ON FREQ TO ADVISE ME THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET CLR OF CLOUDS IF I DSNDED. I DID THAT AND BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT AROUND 3000 FT MSL. I CONTINUED TO ABOUT 2800 FT THEN HEADED DIRECT TO HOME BASE. IN RETROSPECT; THE FAILED ALTIMETER WENT; INITIALLY; UNNOTICED CAUSING ME TO FEEL THE NEED TO FILE IFR. LASTLY; I WAS PICKING THE PLANE UP FROM EXTENSIVE 'BEHIND THE PANEL' WORK AT THE AVIONICS SHOP. LESSON LEARNED!

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.