Helicopter EMS encounters IMC. Enters control zone without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	239294
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz tower : str
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3900 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	239294
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route from xyz to ZZZ on a VFR flight plan the WX started to deteriorate approximately 10 mi east of abc. I turned back to the north and made a decision to proceed to abc airport for fuel. I was unable to contact ZZZ approach and did not know the frequency for def approach at abc. With the WX marginal VFR in the control zone, I chose to enter the control zone after a call on unicom without contacting def approach for a special VFR clearance. The reason for not looking up the approach frequency for def approach is that I was single pilot in deteriorating WX and I did not feel comfortable looking up the frequency and flying at the same time. Also, with a patient on board it was important to obtain fuel as quickly as possible so the flight could be completed IFR to ZZZ. In retrospect, the best course of action would have been to refuel in def and conduct the flight IFR to ZZZ or at least have enough fuel for the IFR option. The WX in ZZZ and def had been improving during the previous 2 hours. This factor and the forecast led me to the conclusion that the flight could be completed VFR. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that the decision to land was the most appropriate but needed to be acted on sooner. WX reporting obtained 5 min prior to flight did not match conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI EMS ENCOUNTERS IMC. ENTERS CTL ZONE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM XYZ TO ZZZ ON A VFR FLT PLAN THE WX STARTED TO DETERIORATE APPROX 10 MI E OF ABC. I TURNED BACK TO THE N AND MADE A DECISION TO PROCEED TO ABC ARPT FOR FUEL. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT ZZZ APCH AND DID NOT KNOW THE FREQ FOR DEF APCH AT ABC. WITH THE WX MARGINAL VFR IN THE CTL ZONE, I CHOSE TO ENTER THE CTL ZONE AFTER A CALL ON UNICOM WITHOUT CONTACTING DEF APCH FOR A SPECIAL VFR CLRNC. THE REASON FOR NOT LOOKING UP THE APCH FREQ FOR DEF APCH IS THAT I WAS SINGLE PLT IN DETERIORATING WX AND I DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE LOOKING UP THE FREQ AND FLYING AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO, WITH A PATIENT ON BOARD IT WAS IMPORTANT TO OBTAIN FUEL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THE FLT COULD BE COMPLETED IFR TO ZZZ. IN RETROSPECT, THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO REFUEL IN DEF AND CONDUCT THE FLT IFR TO ZZZ OR AT LEAST HAVE ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE IFR OPTION. THE WX IN ZZZ AND DEF HAD BEEN IMPROVING DURING THE PREVIOUS 2 HRS. THIS FACTOR AND THE FORECAST LED ME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE FLT COULD BE COMPLETED VFR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT THE DECISION TO LAND WAS THE MOST APPROPRIATE BUT NEEDED TO BE ACTED ON SOONER. WX RPTING OBTAINED 5 MIN PRIOR TO FLT DID NOT MATCH CONDITIONS.

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.