SR22
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 28; Flight Crew Total 1905; Flight Crew Type 1260
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft
In cruise; having just passed over ZZZ airport. Was navigating to fly through a wide gap in thunderstorms approximately 40 nm south of position. Noticed the Avidyne Multifunction Display (MFD) flicker; followed immediately by the smell of electrical burning/arcing. Elected to turn 180 deg immediately and informed ATC my intention to land at ZZZ with priority handling. I had my copilot get the ATIS for landing information while I descended rapidly through the OVC layer. No fire; no smoke. Display remained on during descent; but smell continued. Due to altitude and short distance to ZZZ; I overshot airport and had to spiral back; all in IMC. Broke out of OVC on downwind to runway; saw runway and landed visually. Was able to taxi to the ramp and shut down without further incident. Call made to ZZZ tower as requested.In hindsight; I could have pulled the breaker for the MFD and relied on my GPS or iPad for navigation to ZZZ. The display continued to function without smoke; however; and I used it to locate the airport as I spiraled down in IMC.
SR22 pilot reported that during cruise the Multifunction Display flickered then he smelled electrical burning/arching.