In a thunderstorm, what action should a pilot take regarding the autopilot?

In the presence of a thunderstorm, the safest course of action for a pilot is to disengage the autopilot. Thunderstorms can produce severe turbulence, rapid changes in wind direction, and other unpredictable factors that can affect aircraft control. By manually flying the aircraft, the pilot can respond more effectively to these variable conditions.

Disengaging the autopilot allows the pilot to have direct control and better situational awareness, which is crucial in navigating through or around a thunderstorm. Pilots are trained to handle such dynamic situations manually to ensure the highest level of safety.

While engaging the autopilot might seem like an automatic choice for maintaining a steady flight path, it would hinder the pilot's ability to make immediate adjustments as needed in response to sudden turbulence or shifts in the aircraft's attitude caused by the storm. Manual navigation and radar use are also important tools during a thunderstorm but do not replace the need for active control of the aircraft. Therefore, disengaging the autopilot is the best and most prudent action to take.