PA-46 Malibu/Malibu Mirage/Malibu Matrix
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 3300; Flight Crew Type 160
Confusion; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted
Human Factors; Aircraft
IMC at FL270. Passenger in copilot seat inadvertently disengaged autopilot; which went unnoticed by me for several seconds. By the time I noticed it; the plane was in a significant spiral. We had done at least 1 or 2 360-degree turns and lost significant altitude (1;000-2;000 feet). Center came on inquiring whether everything was OK. I responded Negative and asked to call them back when I had regained control of the plane. My problem and confusion was compounded by a vacuum pump failure of both primary and backup vacuums; causing my backup Artificial Horizons to tumble. Once back under control; regaining altitude and heading; I asked Center for vectors to nearest. I was directed to ZZZ and made an uneventful instrument approach and landing. We were able to obtain overnight and install a new vacuum pump. After multiple checkouts of the autopilot; it was declared airworthy and we proceeded to destination. Enroute my passenger thinks he bumped the trim switches while reaching for the vacuum gyro compass. That would cause the autopilot to disengage. Autopilot disengagement produces an audible beep in the cabin; but it can easily go unnoticed under noise canceling headsets; especially if there is any other conflicting audio distraction through the headsets at the time. I have contacted an avionics shop to have the autopilot audio output routed through the audio panel and headsets; and to add a visual warning light to alert the pilot of a disconnect.
PA46 pilot experiences autopilot disengagement along with loss of backup gyro horizon a FL270 resulting in at least one 360 degree turn and the loss of 1;000-2;000 feet before it is detected and recovery commenced.