Helicopter flies above overcast unable remain on assigned route.

Attributes
ACN	185194
Time
Date	199106
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lax
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	185194
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Helicopter was cleared into lax via the sepulveda helicopter route. Helicopter was VFR on top of a low (1000 to 1500) overcast layer. Received lax ATIS while 15 mi north of lax calling 1100 scattered, 2500 thin scattered, visibility 5. PIC elected to stay on top of layer since ATIS called for scattered at 1100 ft. When arriving at lax the layer was overcast not scattered. Helicopter could not maintain proper route due to lack of reference to ground and deviated into jet traffic go-around area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI FLIES ABOVE OVCST UNABLE REMAIN ON ASSIGNED RTE.

Narrative: HELI WAS CLRED INTO LAX VIA THE SEPULVEDA HELI RTE. HELI WAS VFR ON TOP OF A LOW (1000 TO 1500) OVCST LAYER. RECEIVED LAX ATIS WHILE 15 MI N OF LAX CALLING 1100 SCATTERED, 2500 THIN SCATTERED, VISIBILITY 5. PIC ELECTED TO STAY ON TOP OF LAYER SINCE ATIS CALLED FOR SCATTERED AT 1100 FT. WHEN ARRIVING AT LAX THE LAYER WAS OVCST NOT SCATTERED. HELI COULD NOT MAINTAIN PROPER RTE DUE TO LACK OF REFERENCE TO GND AND DEVIATED INTO JET TFC GO-AROUND AREA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.