Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 4500; Flight Crew Type 1500
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Aircraft; Human Factors
While on route the weather was deteriorating to 600 feet overcast and 2 miles.  I was reviewing the approach options for the airport and when I went back to heads up the autopilot had disengaged and was 7 degrees nose down and 45 degrees bank to the right. After recovering from the unusual attitude I was 1 mile south of course and 500 feet below assigned altitude. By the time I had finished accessing the failure; getting back on course I was already on a different frequency and had failed to report the deviation to the controlling facility.
C182 pilot experiences an autopilot disconnect while he is reviewing the approach charts. When the anomaly is detected the aircraft is seven degrees nose down and in a 45 degree bank. ATC does not comment on the 500 foot altitude loss or the track deviation.