Cessna 402/402C/B379 Businessliner/Utiliner
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
Flight in IFR conditions; low ceilings (500 feet) /good visibility (6+miles) underneath.Received clearance for departure from Approach to fly 210 climb 2;000. All instruments normal at completion of before takeoff checklist. Departed runway; instruments normal on takeoff roll. On climb out; gear retracted; Vy maintained. Initiated turn from runway heading to assigned 210; in turn attitude indicator failed and 'turned upside down.' Suction gauge pegged to 7/8 o'clock position with 1 red nipple showing. Exercised my PIC authority; discontinued climb and descended (was over the ocean at this point) to visual conditions and returned to land without incidence. I was not in radar contact or communication with ATC.Not my area of expertise but would offer is there a maintenance check/procedure to better predict a failure occurring.
Cessna 402C pilot reported losing his attitude indicator shortly after takeoff in IMC.