Date: 202101
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Beech 1900
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class C ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Aircraft component: Cockpit Furnishing
Component problem: Design; Malfunctioning
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Distraction; Physiological - Other
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; 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 Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: On approach to ZZZ; Initially the weather report was 3/4 SM visibility; so I informed the controller that I needed 1SM to shoot the approach due to my high minimums status. The Controller gave me direct ZZZ VOR and Hold northeast as published at 6;000 feet. I began heading direct to the VOR; when the controller came back and gave me the updated visibility at 1SM. So I accepted vectors to the approach. As I neared the FAF; I knew that I would need to be able to see the approach lights and runway in a low visibility situation; so I attempted to move the sun visor back to its stowed position. The visor became stuck; which is normal for these airplanes so I pushed harder. As I did that; the visor suddenly released itself and hit me in the face; causing a dull pain and immediate swelling. I touched the area and came back with a lot of blood on my hand; so I concentrated on flying the approach using standard procedures and call-outs and getting back on the ground. Unfortunately; I reached mins and did not see the runway environment; so I called out 'minimums; missed approach' and began the missed approach procedure according to standard procedures and call-outs. The controller attempted to give me a hold over the ZZZ VOR; but as I was bleeding and didn't know how long I would need to hold I chose to divert back to ZZZ1. I confirmed this decision after reaching cruise and having center call company Dispatch. Center informed me that I was a [priority] aircraft and would be treated as such as I had initially requested paramedics upon arrival. Upon reaching cruise however; I used my phone (which was off) as a mirror and concluded that I did not need medical assistance. So I informed Center of this change. I completed the flight back to ZZZ1 with no further issues. Paramedics met me at the ramp anyway; along with Airport OPS. They did not request my information and sent me on my way after cleaning the blood off of my face and neck. I then called dispatch and the Chief Pilots office to inform them of the situation.When the sun visor hit me in the face and I found blood on my hand. The sun visor in this airplane is in poor condition and gets stuck on the rail constantly. This in addition to the fact that I was very task saturated and didn't realize that the bleeding wasn't as bad as I had initially thought. I made the division to divert as I was performing a missed approach and wasn't aware of how severe the injury was. I knew the other airports in the vicinity were not suitable so I decided to go back to ZZZ1 as I knew it was 800-1000 foot OVC and I would have no issues. If I had moved the sun visor earlier that would have been beneficial; aside from that it could definitely use some TLC.




Synopsis: Beech-1900 pilot reported trying to move a sun shade during an IMC approach and causing an injury to the pilot's head.