Date: 201809
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Turbulence; 10
Aircraft: Trinidad TB-20
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Initial Approach
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Physiological - Other; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
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 Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Weather
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was on an IFR flight plan. I am instrument rated and current. I was flying on autopilot; and had stepped down from 5000 FT to 3000 FT as instructed by ATC. 3000 FT put me in solid IMC with light to moderate turbulence. After approximately 20-30 minutes in IMC I was vectored onto the ILS and transitioned to Tower frequency. Shortly after [that] I realized my autopilot was flying through the ILS as the needle became centered then started deflecting. Realizing my autopilot was configured incorrectly I disconnected it and attempted to correct my approach by hand. When I disconnected I must have over corrected because I almost immediately realized I was in an uncoordinated/unusual attitude; descending and turning. After correcting the unusual attitude I realized I was rattled from how fast I became uncoordinated. I advised Tower I was breaking off the approach. I had become 'lost' on the ILS and that I was climbing back above the layer. They handed me back to TRACON; who immediately vectored me back to the ILS. I re-entered IMC; and still felt uncomfortable tracking the approach; so I again climbed above the layer. This time I was still with TRACON; so I asked to switch to VFR flight and assumed an easterly heading in VMC on top. After collecting my nerves; and troubleshooting my system I requested vectors back to the ILS; re-entered IMC and successfully navigated the approach; [and] broke out of clouds at approximately 1000 FT AGL. In retrospect; I should have requested vectors away from the ILS to have time to set up for the approach after my first missed. Since this incident; I've booked more time with a CFII to actively seek IMC to fly in. I'm instituting regular practice on my home simulator and I have also redoubled my efforts to understand every mode available on my GPS/autopilot to ensure I always know how it's configured; and have done several practice approaches since this incident. It has been a couple of years since I was last in IMC. It was more disorienting than I'd experienced in recent flight with foggles; especially with the turbulence; which caused me to lose; then regain control of the aircraft shortly after beginning to hand fly in IMC.




Synopsis: TB20 pilot reported an unusual attitude resulted after becoming disoriented on an ILS approach in actual IMC.