Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Student
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Aircraft; Weather
Was flying straight and level at 6;000 feet. layer of clouds 1 mile ahead asked ATC for deviation off course. ATC approved 15 degree left or right of course before I could deviate was in clouds was straight and level for a few minutes then due to turbulence aircraft was banking to left was trying to get back to straight and level but then started losing altitude when that happened I notified ATC 'unable to maintain altitude and was calling out my flight level.'Once I got positive control of the airplane again informed ATC and then ATC asked me if I want to return to VRB or FPR so I asked for a return to my home base FPR. Miami Center then decided to [advise] for me at FPR and gave me non Gyro vectors. Once my Heading indicator seemed to be working fine I resumed my own navigation and asked for a low approach over 10R so that the Tower could check my landing gear for any damage. Once I was given an all clear from ATC I made right traffic for 10R and landed safely.
PA-28 pilot reported loss of inflight control due to entering IMC; turbulence and a heading indicator malfunction.