PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 19; Flight Crew Total 2250; Flight Crew Type 170
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
During IFR flight (IMC conditions) Garmin GTN 650 touchscreen froze after about 10 minutes from takeoff. Radio switched from ZZZ Approach to ZZZ Tower; frequency used prior to Departure. Knobs and buttons were operable; but could not switch frequencies or operate navigation functions from touchscreen. ZZZ Tower gave me vectors and allowed descent to VMC. Broke out at 2900 ft. MSL with [the] field in sight; made [an] uneventful landing. After [the] aircraft was parked; I rebooted GTN 650; normal operation. I did not want to reboot in flight since all radios went through the GTN 650.
Pilot reported that the touch screen for the integrated audio system froze; severely degrading communications; causing a precautionary landing.