LC42 lancair pilot becomes disoriented and has spatial disorientation during ILS approach to cid.

Attributes
ACN	695539
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : foner
State Reference	IA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cid.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 9
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 32 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	695539
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	FAA Aircraft Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight to cid. The last 1 1/2 hours of trip was in IMC. 1/2 hour out; got ATIS information (broken 1600 ft; 2100 ft; overcast 4300 ft; 5 SM; 120 degrees; 10-26). Was on a direct to foner at 7000 ft and was 30-40 mi out. ZAU gave me my request for 5000 ft and turned me over to cid approach. ILS runway 9 was loaded on the garmins and frequency checked with charts. Cid approach gave me vector 80 degrees to intercept and cleared down to 3000 ft. Ground speed was 190 KTS (TAS 170 KTS) and tailwind 220 degrees at KTS. Applied speed brakes and pulled back on throttle. Flaps were brought down at 135 KTS and brakes retracted; hit turbulence as tailwind changed to headwind. Was hand flying at this time. I immediately put 80 degrees and put autoplt in heading; went to put in 3000 ft altitude but was out of clouds. Immediately climbed as took autoplt off. At this time experienced spatial disorientation and felt in steep left turn. Instruments not indicative of this. Had passed magenta line off foner. Activated autoplt which immediately started steep turn. I was still outside foner. Came out of clouds and was low. Oriented self; took autoplt off as gained orientation in VMC. Stayed low to stay in VMC; used horizontal guidance until runway in sight. Then came in the final leg high. Landed without problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LC42 LANCAIR PLT BECOMES DISORIENTED AND HAS SPATIAL DISORIENTATION DURING ILS APCH TO CID.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT TO CID. THE LAST 1 1/2 HRS OF TRIP WAS IN IMC. 1/2 HR OUT; GOT ATIS INFO (BROKEN 1600 FT; 2100 FT; OVCST 4300 FT; 5 SM; 120 DEGS; 10-26). WAS ON A DIRECT TO FONER AT 7000 FT AND WAS 30-40 MI OUT. ZAU GAVE ME MY REQUEST FOR 5000 FT AND TURNED ME OVER TO CID APCH. ILS RWY 9 WAS LOADED ON THE GARMINS AND FREQ CHKED WITH CHARTS. CID APCH GAVE ME VECTOR 80 DEGS TO INTERCEPT AND CLRED DOWN TO 3000 FT. GND SPD WAS 190 KTS (TAS 170 KTS) AND TAILWIND 220 DEGS AT KTS. APPLIED SPD BRAKES AND PULLED BACK ON THROTTLE. FLAPS WERE BROUGHT DOWN AT 135 KTS AND BRAKES RETRACTED; HIT TURB AS TAILWIND CHANGED TO HEADWIND. WAS HAND FLYING AT THIS TIME. I IMMEDIATELY PUT 80 DEGS AND PUT AUTOPLT IN HDG; WENT TO PUT IN 3000 FT ALT BUT WAS OUT OF CLOUDS. IMMEDIATELY CLBED AS TOOK AUTOPLT OFF. AT THIS TIME EXPERIENCED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND FELT IN STEEP L TURN. INSTS NOT INDICATIVE OF THIS. HAD PASSED MAGENTA LINE OFF FONER. ACTIVATED AUTOPLT WHICH IMMEDIATELY STARTED STEEP TURN. I WAS STILL OUTSIDE FONER. CAME OUT OF CLOUDS AND WAS LOW. ORIENTED SELF; TOOK AUTOPLT OFF AS GAINED ORIENTATION IN VMC. STAYED LOW TO STAY IN VMC; USED HORIZ GUIDANCE UNTIL RWY IN SIGHT. THEN CAME IN THE FINAL LEG HIGH. LANDED WITHOUT PROB.

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.