Date: 201911
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Rain; 4
Light: Night
Aircraft: Small Aircraft
Operator: FBO
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class D ZZZ
Aircraft component: Attitude Indicator(Gyro/Horizon/ADI)
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: FBO
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Instructor
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Confusion; Distraction; Fatigue; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Workload
Anomaly: Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors; Weather
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: This was my third flight for the day IFR training. The third plane for the day. The weather minimums and visibility were within limits for the flight. The first part of the flight was a ILS approach into ZZZ1; using SID departure procedures.Upon departure from ZZZ; the active runway was Runway XX; we used the SID; heading 165 to intercept the 256 radial to ZZZ2; then radar vectors to intercept the Localizer and Glide Slope to ZZZ1 Runway XXR. The flight was uneventful; the flight ended with a full stop and taxi back to runway for an IFR departure to pick up the LOC-D back into ZZZ; the IFR request was granted; upon departure; heading was 270; with radar vectors to pick up the Localizer into ZZZ; altitude initially was 5;000 MSL.We were cleared for the approach; the student under my supervision flew the approach; when we descended to 1;500; the heading indicator and attitude indicator showed slight precession and tilting; we did not have the runway in site; we were returned to ATC control and returned to try it again. This happened twice for the student; upon the missed; I took the controls; and I tried the approach. The attitude indicator; in my opinion was having a problem; so I treated it as a partial panel; I covered the attitude indicator; so it would not distract me. I did not have the runway in sight; so I was returned to ATC; I was returned to intercept the Localizer. During all this the weather progressively got worse; the flight was supposed to be short; but with the many attempts; and with the weather getting worse. I was asked by ATC if I would like to divert to ZZZ1; I preceded to initiate a climb; but the heading indicator was precessing; and I ended up being 180 degree off course. ATC helped me get back on course; but I was having issues with maintaining heading and altitude; ATC asked me if I was having an issue; and I told them I having a problem with my attitude and heading; then ATC diverted traffic to assist me. I was give turn by turn heading and I lost altitude and once I recovered; I was asked if I could use GPS to direct to fixes; I confirmed that I could; I maintained heading and altitude; and vectored to intercept the glide slope and localizer to ZZZ1; and landed there.I have reviewed this flight to the best of my memory; when I checked the weather prior to the flight; apparently I made an error; I will review my weather minimums before attempting another flight in the future under the same conditions.




Synopsis: Flight instructor reported that failure of the attitude and heading indicators in IMC resulted in heading and altitude deviations.