<< >> NASA ASRS Report 351475, October 1996

Helicopter on EMS mission had been briefed on WX conditions, but when in the area of the scene the WX became IMC. Reporter exited the WX area and returned to departure airport.

Attributes
ACN	351475
Time
Date	199610
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 800 agl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	351475
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Aircraft was dispatched to night EMS scene approximately 30 NM south of xyz. After a WX check I departed with a 2 map medical team and encountered inadvertent IMC approximately 15 NM south. I initiated a climb and once established on instruments began a 180 degree turn. Shortly thereafter I exited the IMC. We then returned to our home base. WX check prior to departure. Company fixed wing over same route reported a 7000 ft overcast and unlimited visibility. Local AWOS reported ceiling missing, visibility greater than 10 mi and temperature/dewpoint of 43 degrees/21 degrees.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI ON EMS MISSION HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON WX CONDITIONS, BUT WHEN IN THE AREA OF THE SCENE THE WX BECAME IMC. RPTR EXITED THE WX AREA AND RETURNED TO DEP ARPT.

Narrative: ACFT WAS DISPATCHED TO NIGHT EMS SCENE APPROX 30 NM S OF XYZ. AFTER A WX CHK I DEPARTED WITH A 2 MAP MEDICAL TEAM AND ENCOUNTERED INADVERTENT IMC APPROX 15 NM S. I INITIATED A CLB AND ONCE ESTABLISHED ON INSTS BEGAN A 180 DEG TURN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I EXITED THE IMC. WE THEN RETURNED TO OUR HOME BASE. WX CHK PRIOR TO DEP. COMPANY FIXED WING OVER SAME RTE RPTED A 7000 FT OVCST AND UNLIMITED VISIBILITY. LCL AWOS RPTED CEILING MISSING, VISIBILITY GREATER THAN 10 MI AND TEMP/DEWPOINT OF 43 DEGS/21 DEGS.

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.