PA-46 Malibu Meridian
Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Glider
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 16000; Flight Crew Type 80
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Aircraft; Human Factors; Weather
Performing a course reversal at BRUUK for the ILS 17 MTJ I received an altitude alert. Correction was initiated. It became apparent that the autopilot had disconnected. An unusual attitude recovery was made from a nose low right turn and altitude recovered. Approach was continued until VMC was entered and IFR canceled. Lesson learned: be continuously aware of autopilot status and for inadvertent disconnects especially when the disconnect alarm can be obscured by other distractions.
PA46 Captain experienced an autopilot disconnect during a procedure turn that initially goes undetected resulting in descent below the segment altitude and an unusual attitude. The unusual attitude was corrected and altitude recovered. The approach was continued to VMC and a normal landing.