Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 510; Flight Crew Type 10
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
On departure upon entering IMC at approximately 600 FT MSL; heading information was lost due to the heading indicator becoming inoperative on the PFD on the G1000 display. I still had full use of the magnetic compass; and I elected to inform ATC of the malfunction; and request vectors back and to execute the localizer approach. I initially requested a no-gyro approach; however I ultimately elected to navigate using the magnetic compass. Approximately ten minutes into the flight; the heading indicator returned and I was able to use it in conjunction with the magnetic compass to successfully execute the instrument approach. No one was injured; neither myself nor my one passenger; the aircraft was not damaged; and no other persons or property was damaged.
C182 pilot experiences loss of heading information in the G1000 PFD shortly after takeoff in IMC. The magnetic compass is used to navigate back to the departure airport and the PFD heading begins functioning normally prior to landing.