Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 6; Flight Crew Total 2600; Flight Crew Type 1200
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Human Factors; Weather
On RNAV 17 approach; I was not sure I was getting vertical guidance. Attempted to reactivate approach; but the approach would not reactivate due to being inside the initial approach fix. Lost approach (except on MFD approach charts that also indicated aircraft position on charts) on GPS due to checking programming; but had limited visual of airport and continued. Received low altitude call from TRACON. Corrected altitude; but in doing so lost visual with airport for short time. Continued approach procedure and visual landing. I knew I should not to attempt reactivation of approach; but was distracted. The Garmin 530 doesn't adequately indicate that the approach is active and functioning; or is ambiguous. If the GPS more clearly indicated phase of flight and approach functioning; probably wouldn't have happened. I need to re-read manual for GPS.
PA34 pilot reports losing vertical and lateral guidance during an RNAV approach. The approach is continued using the track line on the MFD only; resulting in a low altitude alert from the Tower. In and out of clouds the approach is continued to landing.