VFR EMS helicopter penetrated class C airspace.

Attributes
ACN	318681
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : xyz
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	318681
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed ZZZ airport VFR en route to abc hospital, located between lake YYY and the city of XXX. Course flown: ZZZ direct- YYY-direct abc hospital. WX at ZZZ was VFR, en route WX at YYY IFR partially obscured 1 1/2 mi visibility tops 3000 ft MSL. After VFR departure ZZZ on a course of 145 degrees at approximately 6 mi started a slow climb from 2500 ft MSL to VFR on top inadvertently penetrating xyz arsa (east edge). After initial contact with YYY tower controller stated radar not operational. Received clearance into the class C VFR on top. Short time later YYY tower advised that xyz arsa was penetrated. To prevent recurrence: check route of flight with VFR terminal area chart prior to departure and or en route to prevent inadvertent penetration of an arsa or any other controled airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR EMS HELI PENETRATED CLASS C AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DEPARTED ZZZ ARPT VFR ENRTE TO ABC HOSPITAL, LOCATED BTWN LAKE YYY AND THE CITY OF XXX. COURSE FLOWN: ZZZ DIRECT- YYY-DIRECT ABC HOSPITAL. WX AT ZZZ WAS VFR, ENRTE WX AT YYY IFR PARTIALLY OBSCURED 1 1/2 MI VISIBILITY TOPS 3000 FT MSL. AFTER VFR DEP ZZZ ON A COURSE OF 145 DEGS AT APPROX 6 MI STARTED A SLOW CLB FROM 2500 FT MSL TO VFR ON TOP INADVERTENTLY PENETRATING XYZ ARSA (E EDGE). AFTER INITIAL CONTACT WITH YYY TWR CTLR STATED RADAR NOT OPERATIONAL. RECEIVED CLRNC INTO THE CLASS C VFR ON TOP. SHORT TIME LATER YYY TWR ADVISED THAT XYZ ARSA WAS PENETRATED. TO PREVENT RECURRENCE: CHK RTE OF FLT WITH VFR TERMINAL AREA CHART PRIOR TO DEP AND OR ENRTE TO PREVENT INADVERTENT PENETRATION OF AN ARSA OR ANY OTHER CTLED AIRSPACE.

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.