SA-227 AC Metro III
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors; Weather
On approach; I had to shoot the ILS 3 times in order to land. The weather at the time was overcast 300 and 7 miles of visibility. On my first attempt; I overshot the heading assigned by ATC by 35 degrees. I was assigned 080 and turned to 115. My #1 and #2 HSI gave me conflicting information as I was in the turn. I was on the localizer according to the #1 HSI; but the #2 HSI showed that I was off of the localizer. When I checked the frequency; I dialed in 109.5 into #1 HSI instead of 109.7. By the time that I noticed the mistake; ATC queried me about my heading and gave me a right turn to set up for a second attempt on the ILS. The second attempt was going good until ATC issued a low altitude alert. As I referenced my altimeter; my altitude was about 1;100 feet and the glideslope was centered; according to my instruments. I went missed after the alert as a safety precaution to set up for a third attempt. My third and final attempt was successful. I broke out about 70 feet above minimums and landed safely without further trouble.I noticed my instruments had conflicting information; and ATC told me. Those factors combined provided the necessary corrections. Single pilot low IFR is very labor intensive at crucial times in an approach sequence. As a result; there are a multitude of different tasks and checklists happening simultaneously. While I was doing the approach checklist; ATC gave me several instructions. I hurriedly finished the approach checklist and thought I saw that both radios were tuned to 109.7 with a quick visual check. I identified the localizer for 2 but not number 1.I was overloaded and corrected the event. I would slow the airplane down even more to give myself more time during the checklists. Also; I would double check the frequency. Cockpit standardization would help so radios would be in the same place in every airplane instead of scattered wherever they fit.
SA227 Captain flying single pilot IFR reported it took three attempts to successfully complete the ILS approach; including one that involved an ATC-issued low altitude alert.