Narrative:

Operating a BK117 as a hospital based 135 non scheduled carrier, certified as single pilot VFR or dual pilot IFR. During shift change, received telephonic WX brief as well as computer generated duat brief from NWS at approximately XA00 local. WX brief was for a 75 mi radius of airport xyz and included synopsis, area forecasts, sigmets, sa, ft, winds aloft, NOTAMS. Forecasts indicated VFR conditions for entire shift of 12 hours. At approximately XH10 local, we were dispatched to transport a patient from xyz to ZZZ approximately 160 NM. We departed airport xyz with sky conditions clear, visibility unrestr. No current observations available within 60 NM of ZZZ at that time of night. Flight proceeded south where unforecasted WX was encountered. Altitude was increased from 2500 ft MSL to 3500 ft MSL in order to remain VFR. At approximately XI30 local and 35 mi north of ZZZ, I asked for and received an IFR clearance into the class B airspace. This decision was based on fuel remaining and not being able to turn back. Clearance was given for the VOR/DME 17 approach at ZZZ. The approach was executed and actual IMC conditions were encountered for approximately 2 mins. We broke out at approximately 700 ft MSL and the aircraft was landed safely at ZZZ. Medical crew returned to xyz after completion of transfer at approximately XK40 local. Sa indicated 5 mi visibility, 16 mi broken and 4 mi in fog. I filed another IFR flight plan direct. We departed ZZZ at XL15 local with a SVFR clearance. Approximately 12 mi north of ZZZ, I activated the IFR flight plan in order to go VFR on top. The entire flight back was conducted VFR on top. Upon arrival at xyz, clearance was given by center to expect ILS runway 13 approach. Radar contact was lost and we were told to contact xyz approach. Contact was made by xyz and we were cleared for VOR/DME 4 approach at xyz. Again, IMC conditions were encountered during final approach leg. We broke out 200 ft above MDA and landed again safely at xyz. This mission was operated single pilot. I should have reconfirmed my WX prior to departure from xyz. Safety was primary consideration in asking for IFR clrncs. Violations of FARS concerning single pilot IFR flight was not intentional, but at the time it was the reality I was faced with.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMS HELI WAS FORCED TO FLY SINGLE PLT IN IMC TO COMPLETE HIS MISSION.

Narrative: OPERATING A BK117 AS A HOSPITAL BASED 135 NON SCHEDULED CARRIER, CERTIFIED AS SINGLE PLT VFR OR DUAL PLT IFR. DURING SHIFT CHANGE, RECEIVED TELEPHONIC WX BRIEF AS WELL AS COMPUTER GENERATED DUAT BRIEF FROM NWS AT APPROX XA00 LCL. WX BRIEF WAS FOR A 75 MI RADIUS OF ARPT XYZ AND INCLUDED SYNOPSIS, AREA FORECASTS, SIGMETS, SA, FT, WINDS ALOFT, NOTAMS. FORECASTS INDICATED VFR CONDITIONS FOR ENTIRE SHIFT OF 12 HRS. AT APPROX XH10 LCL, WE WERE DISPATCHED TO TRANSPORT A PATIENT FROM XYZ TO ZZZ APPROX 160 NM. WE DEPARTED ARPT XYZ WITH SKY CONDITIONS CLR, VISIBILITY UNRESTR. NO CURRENT OBSERVATIONS AVAILABLE WITHIN 60 NM OF ZZZ AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT. FLT PROCEEDED S WHERE UNFORECASTED WX WAS ENCOUNTERED. ALT WAS INCREASED FROM 2500 FT MSL TO 3500 FT MSL IN ORDER TO REMAIN VFR. AT APPROX XI30 LCL AND 35 MI N OF ZZZ, I ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED AN IFR CLRNC INTO THE CLASS B AIRSPACE. THIS DECISION WAS BASED ON FUEL REMAINING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN BACK. CLRNC WAS GIVEN FOR THE VOR/DME 17 APCH AT ZZZ. THE APCH WAS EXECUTED AND ACTUAL IMC CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED FOR APPROX 2 MINS. WE BROKE OUT AT APPROX 700 FT MSL AND THE ACFT WAS LANDED SAFELY AT ZZZ. MEDICAL CREW RETURNED TO XYZ AFTER COMPLETION OF TRANSFER AT APPROX XK40 LCL. SA INDICATED 5 MI VISIBILITY, 16 MI BROKEN AND 4 MI IN FOG. I FILED ANOTHER IFR FLT PLAN DIRECT. WE DEPARTED ZZZ AT XL15 LCL WITH A SVFR CLRNC. APPROX 12 MI N OF ZZZ, I ACTIVATED THE IFR FLT PLAN IN ORDER TO GO VFR ON TOP. THE ENTIRE FLT BACK WAS CONDUCTED VFR ON TOP. UPON ARR AT XYZ, CLRNC WAS GIVEN BY CTR TO EXPECT ILS RWY 13 APCH. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AND WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT XYZ APCH. CONTACT WAS MADE BY XYZ AND WE WERE CLRED FOR VOR/DME 4 APCH AT XYZ. AGAIN, IMC CONDITIONS WERE ENCOUNTERED DURING FINAL APCH LEG. WE BROKE OUT 200 FT ABOVE MDA AND LANDED AGAIN SAFELY AT XYZ. THIS MISSION WAS OPERATED SINGLE PLT. I SHOULD HAVE RECONFIRMED MY WX PRIOR TO DEP FROM XYZ. SAFETY WAS PRIMARY CONSIDERATION IN ASKING FOR IFR CLRNCS. VIOLATIONS OF FARS CONCERNING SINGLE PLT IFR FLT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL, BUT AT THE TIME IT WAS THE REALITY I WAS FACED WITH.

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.