Roy Smith wrote in message ...
I don't fly too many coupled approaches, so forgive me if this is a
simplistic question.

I don't either, but I hope this info helps.

So, my question is, what would have been the right thing to do?

I have a KAP140. I think, in the situation you describe, my autopilot
would turn to intercept the localizer at a 45 degree angle (which it
does by default) and then try to turn on course per the heading bug.
At 2 miles out, I don't think it would make it.

What I would do on my machine would switch to HDG mode, turn to a
heading that would intercept the localizer at a small angle, switch to
ROL, hit APR, and move the heading bug to the localizer course. The
machine would intercept the localizer on the wings-level heading, then
turn on course when the localizer is intercepted.

Actually, what I would do is disengage and fly by hand, as you did,
but I'm pretty sure this would work. Now I'm gonna hafta try it next
time I'm out.