Date: 201401
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Fog; 0
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Baron 58/58TC
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Final Approach
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Confusion; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: While practicing the ILS approach; single pilot; the autopilot lost capture of the glideslope and localizer prior to the missed approach point. As I unsuccessfully tried to reengage the autopilot; something dropped from the ceiling of the cockpit; momentarily distracting me. Turning my attention back to the panel; I discovered both needles had gone full deflection and my heading was showing 157 degrees instead of 143. I was now 14 degrees off course in IMC at 200 FT AGL. I was confused because ATIS called for 300 foot ceilings and I was already at 200 FT with neither visual of the runway nor ground. I had lost my point of reference and was unsure about my position relative to the runway and airport. My next concern was my proximity to the Control Tower; the only vertically-prominent building on the airport property; situated mid field; just west of the runway. Because of the 157 heading that I had been flying following the disengagement of the autopilot; I feared the plane was now headed toward it; or perhaps near it. I knew the missed approach procedure calls for making a climbing right turn to the west of the Airport to the VORTAC; However; without knowing where I was; at 200 FT AGL in IMC; flying at 120 KTS; and having lost my point of reference; I justified a potential hazard and erred on the side of caution. This decision resulted in pilot deviation to the east; away from the perceived hazard. I immediately banked away in a climbing left turn until I was in VFR conditions on top at 1;800 FT MSL where I continued my climb to the VORTAC; albeit from the east side of the airport. Upon emerging from the cloud layer; I immediately reported my position to the Tower. After being handed off to Approach; I briefly explained my disorientation and set up for another ILS approach. Following the second approach to an uneventful landing; I turned off the runway and was taxiing in zero-zero visibility. The ceiling had deteriorated such that at that end of the runway; I could not see the Tower and had to alert them to my field position as I taxied back to the hangar. At the hangar; I finally discovered the 'mystery object' that had perpetrated the distraction. It was a vent nozzle above me that had become loose from the headliner and had fallen. Over the years; I have learned that many accidents happen as a result of a series of events that ultimately lead to disastrous and sometimes fatal consequences; rather than just a single event. The combination of losing autopilot capture of both the localizer and glideslope at a critical time; the distraction of the fallen 'mystery object;' and flying 14 degrees off course at 120 KTS that close to the ground in IMC; coupled with disorientation; I recognized the situation as a recipe for disaster. I chose the only course of action which I felt was safe: climb away from the perceived hazard. Although the whole ordeal lasted only seconds it left me quite shaken.




Synopsis: BE58 pilot experiences autopilot disengagement at low altitude on an ILS approach in IMC. An object falls from the ceiling causing further distraction and a missed approach is initiated with fully deflected needles and 14 degrees off runway heading.