Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 69; Flight Crew Total 3095; Flight Crew Type 2824
Training / Qualification; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Aircraft; Weather
The attitude indicator indicated that I was in a very steep climb; then a turn. Initially; not for long; I followed it. My instrument scan indicated that the readings were erroneous. Suction was at 4.5 and this indicated the vacuum system was still functioning as it should. The DG agreed with compass. I looked for the suction cover to cover the attitude indicator...located it in my flight bag...and dropped it. When I reached down to get it my scan was lost. I did not pick the instrument cover up and so continued without the instrument cover. It is odd how much the eyes travel back to a failed instrument. I looked at the fuel gauges and found that they were reading lower than they should be. [My fuel state was] inaccurate; I now know; because I did check the fuel in ZZZ when I landed. They were not low enough to declare an emergency; but they were indicating low enough to suspect a fuel leak. This did add to my level of stress. I called ATC and explained that I had an instrument failure. He asked if it was an emergency and I stated that it was not.I had approach plates set up for my destination and alternate but not for the area in which I now wanted to land. I attempted to call up the approach plates for the ZZZ1 airport and found that trying to look at the plates while flying without the attitude indicator was a bit more than I was comfortable with.  I requested a vector to VFR conditions.  The Controller had a discussion with another pilot and we decided that I should divert to a nearby airport with which I was familiar [and] I had landed many times but could not recall the identifier and I did not hear the identifier if it had been offered. As many times as I have landed there this indicated the mental state in which I now found myself. I am very disappointed to learn that this mental state is something I am capable of.I was unable to locate the airport on the sectional so I asked the Controller for the identifier and he gave it to me.  I then proceeded in IMC with 'partial panel.'  Shortly thereafter I encountered VFR conditions.[After a safe landing] I took a fair amount of time on the ground to evaluate why this flight had gone so badly:  1) Have the attitude indicator replaced/serviced.  2) Carry paper charts. The iPad shutting off in the middle of all this did not help my situational awareness.  3) Carry paper approach plates. 4) Practice partial panel in actual IMC conditions with a more experienced person on board.I was starting to feel more comfortable in IMC after just a little under 100 hours in actual IMC. The regs are there for a reason. I will work toward more redundancy in my instruments and paper back up in my cockpit. I was very disappointed in my ability in a high stress situation. Not very pleased with my control of my headspace in the cockpit this afternoon.  In a simulator I will work toward partial panel landings. I will also work toward experiencing high stress situations in a controlled environment to get control of the near panic I experienced in my cockpit today.
When the attitude indicator failed during an IFR flight in IMC the reporter reverted to partial panel navigation and requested vectors to a nearby airport in VMC where she landed safely and took time to evaluate her response to the stressful events of the flight.