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A light twin lost the attitude indicator and vacuum system in cruise; entered an inadvertent dive; regained control and diverted to the nearest airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 771044 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200801 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 10500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Transport Low Wing 2 Recip Eng |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 15 |
| ASRS Report | 771044 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Ambiguous |
Narrative:
We were at 10500 ft in VMC but between 2 layers overcast. We were on a VFR flight following flight plan. Upper overcast level was at 22000 ft and the lower level was at 4000 ft. While in cruise we lost our altitude indicator; we then experienced a complete vacuum failure. We entered an inadvertent dive losing approximately 6000 ft in 2 mins. The excessive loss of altitude resulted in the loss of our emergency window. It was sucked out at about 6000 ft AGL. We were talking to ARTCC and received vectors to the nearest airport.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A LIGHT TWIN LOST THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR AND VACUUM SYSTEM IN CRUISE; ENTERED AN INADVERTENT DIVE; REGAINED CONTROL AND DIVERTED TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT.
Narrative: WE WERE AT 10500 FT IN VMC BUT BTWN 2 LAYERS OVCST. WE WERE ON A VFR FLT FOLLOWING FLT PLAN. UPPER OVCST LEVEL WAS AT 22000 FT AND THE LOWER LEVEL WAS AT 4000 FT. WHILE IN CRUISE WE LOST OUR ALT INDICATOR; WE THEN EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE VACUUM FAILURE. WE ENTERED AN INADVERTENT DIVE LOSING APPROX 6000 FT IN 2 MINS. THE EXCESSIVE LOSS OF ALT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF OUR EMER WINDOW. IT WAS SUCKED OUT AT ABOUT 6000 FT AGL. WE WERE TALKING TO ARTCC AND RECEIVED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.