Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 1200; Flight Crew Type 500
Troubleshooting; Confusion; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Aircraft
Name and I are both CFII's (Certified Flight Instructor Instrument). I was pilot flying; he was pilot monitoring. In the descent into ZZZ my flight instruments started reading erroneously- attitude indicator showed climbing left turn; altimeter and VSI showed descent; rate of turn showed wings level; heading indicator and mag compass showed present heading. Name and I decided to [advise ATC] and divert to an airport that reported VMC; asked for vectors to get out of IMC as quickly as possible. While diverting we decided the attitude indicator was reading incorrect; suction was within proper tolerances and heading indicator read correctly. We were able to land safely at an airport (ZZZ1) we are both very familiar with in VMC conditions. Left the plane overnight to take next steps in VFR day conditions.
Two people on board. Two CFII's; I was monitoring the approach and not the pilot flying. In a descent into ZZZ; we had conflicting information on our instruments; eventually; we settled it was the attitude indicator that was not working properly. We were in hard IMC and we decided to request priority with ATC and ask for vectors out of IMC into VMC weather nearby. We then diverted to ZZZ1 which is a very familiar field for both of us. We landed safely in VMC conditions and left the plane there until a VFR flight can be conducted to check the airplane's instruments in VMC.
C172 flight instructors reported during descent the flight attitude instruments gave conflicting information. The flight crew exited IMC conditions and performed a diversion in VMC conditions.