 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
A bonanza A36 pilot reported losing his vacuum pump in IMC; which led to autopilot and attitude indicator failure and an altitude excursion. He diverted to a nearby airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 975305 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201110 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Bonanza 36 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Vacuum Pump |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 21 Flight Crew Total 1804 Flight Crew Type 440 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
While cruising at assigned 6;000 MSL in heavy IMC with rain; my vacuum pump and auto pilot failed. A non pilot was in the right seat. While diagnosing the problem without the attitude indicator and auto pilot which is tied to the ai; I descended 1;000 ft then recovered back to 6;000. I was near [an] airport so I requested a diversion to land [there]. ATC accommodated and I descended to VFR and landed safely. In retrospect I should have reacted sooner to the ten degree banking of the ai; before it failed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A Bonanza A36 pilot reported losing his vacuum pump in IMC; which led to autopilot and attitude indicator failure and an altitude excursion. He diverted to a nearby airport.
Narrative: While cruising at assigned 6;000 MSL in heavy IMC with rain; my vacuum pump and auto pilot failed. A non pilot was in the right seat. While diagnosing the problem without the attitude indicator and auto pilot which is tied to the AI; I descended 1;000 FT then recovered back to 6;000. I was near [an] airport so I requested a diversion to land [there]. ATC accommodated and I descended to VFR and landed safely. In retrospect I should have reacted sooner to the ten degree banking of the AI; before it failed.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.