PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Total 504
Human-Machine Interface; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft
I had just intercepted the localizer in IFR conditions when I switched the autopilot to loc to track the localizer. The plane made an abrupt run into an unusual attitude. When that occurred I completely lost valuable input from my attitude indicator. It was indicating I was turning one way and in reality I was turning the other. When it said straight and level I was in a descending turn. In the confusion I aborted the approach and Approach did a wonderful job of assisting me. I ended up low and finally had ground contact so I could determine level flight. They directed me back to ZZZ1 for a safe landing.
PA32 pilot reported entering an usual attitude due to loss of reliable attitude indicator information.