A BE36 pilot cruising in IFR conditions was distraction while programming the GPS and; when the autoplt disconnected; momentarily lost control in a very steep turn.

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Attributes
ACN	711528
Time
Date	200609
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zny.artcc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 4060 flight time type : 3970
ASRS Report	711528
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was distraction changing the waypoints on the GPS; when unbeknownst to me; the autoplt disconnected. The airplane slowly rolled into a very steep turn and the nose dropped; which accounted for the loss of altitude. When I had the plane under control; I climbed back up to 11000 ft and continued on course.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE36 PLT CRUISING IN IFR CONDITIONS WAS DISTR WHILE PROGRAMMING THE GPS AND; WHEN THE AUTOPLT DISCONNECTED; MOMENTARILY LOST CTL IN A VERY STEEP TURN.

Narrative: I WAS DISTR CHANGING THE WAYPOINTS ON THE GPS; WHEN UNBEKNOWNST TO ME; THE AUTOPLT DISCONNECTED. THE AIRPLANE SLOWLY ROLLED INTO A VERY STEEP TURN AND THE NOSE DROPPED; WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR THE LOSS OF ALT. WHEN I HAD THE PLANE UNDER CTL; I CLBED BACK UP TO 11000 FT AND CONTINUED ON COURSE.

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.