GA small aircraft helicopter VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	113162
Time
Date	198906
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lwm
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 600 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bos
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 37 flight time total : 1305 flight time type : 921
ASRS Report	113162
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We completed an IFR trip from bdr to lwm terminating in a low approach following ILS 5 approach. Lwm was VFR. We broke out at 1200-1500' with 10 mi visibility. We departed lwm VFR en route to MH45, approximately 10 minutes east. Approximately 8 mi east of lwm VOR we encountered low scattered and 1-2 mi visibility in fog. Attempted to turn 180 degree remaining over I-495 for visual reference. Area to the south was dark and we were unable to maintain visual reference. Attempted turn back left and observed more clouds/fog. Airspeed was dropping and altitude was down to 200 AGL. With poor visibility and concern over power lines known to be in the area, we decided to climb. Set course 090, pulled in 85-90% torque, and climbed on instruments at 1000 FPM to 2000'. We initially contacted pease (psm) approach but decided boston approach on 124.4 was best since we just left them at lwm. Explained inadvertent IFR to controller and he provided us with vectors to lwm VOR 23 approach. We made the VOR 23 approach breaking out at 1400' with approximately 10 mi visibility. Parked the aircraft for night. Both pilots were instrument current and current in aircraft which is certificated for IFR. We attempted the trip to the coast because lwm was VFR. We did not want to risk vertigo and deteriorating airspeed at night in limited visibility. We were familiar with the areas around as it is our home base.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA HELICOPTER VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: WE COMPLETED AN IFR TRIP FROM BDR TO LWM TERMINATING IN A LOW APCH FOLLOWING ILS 5 APCH. LWM WAS VFR. WE BROKE OUT AT 1200-1500' WITH 10 MI VISIBILITY. WE DEPARTED LWM VFR ENRTE TO MH45, APPROX 10 MINUTES EAST. APPROX 8 MI E OF LWM VOR WE ENCOUNTERED LOW SCATTERED AND 1-2 MI VISIBILITY IN FOG. ATTEMPTED TO TURN 180 DEG REMAINING OVER I-495 FOR VISUAL REFERENCE. AREA TO THE S WAS DARK AND WE WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL REFERENCE. ATTEMPTED TURN BACK LEFT AND OBSERVED MORE CLOUDS/FOG. AIRSPEED WAS DROPPING AND ALT WAS DOWN TO 200 AGL. WITH POOR VISIBILITY AND CONCERN OVER POWER LINES KNOWN TO BE IN THE AREA, WE DECIDED TO CLIMB. SET COURSE 090, PULLED IN 85-90% TORQUE, AND CLIMBED ON INSTRUMENTS AT 1000 FPM TO 2000'. WE INITIALLY CONTACTED PEASE (PSM) APCH BUT DECIDED BOSTON APCH ON 124.4 WAS BEST SINCE WE JUST LEFT THEM AT LWM. EXPLAINED INADVERTENT IFR TO CTLR AND HE PROVIDED US WITH VECTORS TO LWM VOR 23 APCH. WE MADE THE VOR 23 APCH BREAKING OUT AT 1400' WITH APPROX 10 MI VISIBILITY. PARKED THE ACFT FOR NIGHT. BOTH PLTS WERE INSTRUMENT CURRENT AND CURRENT IN ACFT WHICH IS CERTIFICATED FOR IFR. WE ATTEMPTED THE TRIP TO THE COAST BECAUSE LWM WAS VFR. WE DID NOT WANT TO RISK VERTIGO AND DETERIORATING AIRSPEED AT NIGHT IN LIMITED VISIBILITY. WE WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE AREAS AROUND AS IT IS OUR HOME BASE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.