Law enforcement TH57C helicopter tries to land cgi on a SVFR clearance. WX deteriorated and he did a 180 degree turn for better WX. He climbed to clear obstructions and contacted ZME for IFR clearance. This was followed by an uneventful ILS approach to cgi.

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Attributes
ACN	370031
Time
Date	199705
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cgi
State Reference	MO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme tower : cgi
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : svfr
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6300 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	370031
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During approach to cgi on a SVFR clearance into class D airspace, the WX deteriorated well below reported ceiling/visibility. I elected to do a 180 degree course reversal to return to better conditions. After course reversal, I climbed to provide obstacle clearance and contacted ZME for IFR clearance. After receiving clearance, I recovered at cgi with an ILS runway 10 approach. Contributing factors: flight following was in effect through sector communications remote facilities (a non FAA, government law enforcement communications activity). Cgi was an unanticipated stop due to deteriorating WX. Although approach charts were available, they were not within reach from my position in the aircraft for this unanticipated stop. Fortunately, the aircraft (a former us navy TH57C) is equipped for, and maintained for, although not normally operated in IFR flight. Agency pilots are also trained, certified, and current for rotary wing IFR flight. Lesson learned: I felt my planning was adequate and my corrective action appropriate. The lesson is really how quickly SVFR can become IMC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LAW ENFORCEMENT TH57C HELI TRIES TO LAND CGI ON A SVFR CLRNC. WX DETERIORATED AND HE DID A 180 DEG TURN FOR BETTER WX. HE CLBED TO CLR OBSTRUCTIONS AND CONTACTED ZME FOR IFR CLRNC. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY AN UNEVENTFUL ILS APCH TO CGI.

Narrative: DURING APCH TO CGI ON A SVFR CLRNC INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE, THE WX DETERIORATED WELL BELOW RPTED CEILING/VISIBILITY. I ELECTED TO DO A 180 DEG COURSE REVERSAL TO RETURN TO BETTER CONDITIONS. AFTER COURSE REVERSAL, I CLBED TO PROVIDE OBSTACLE CLRNC AND CONTACTED ZME FOR IFR CLRNC. AFTER RECEIVING CLRNC, I RECOVERED AT CGI WITH AN ILS RWY 10 APCH. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: FLT FOLLOWING WAS IN EFFECT THROUGH SECTOR COMS REMOTE FACILITIES (A NON FAA, GOV LAW ENFORCEMENT COMS ACTIVITY). CGI WAS AN UNANTICIPATED STOP DUE TO DETERIORATING WX. ALTHOUGH APCH CHARTS WERE AVAILABLE, THEY WERE NOT WITHIN REACH FROM MY POS IN THE ACFT FOR THIS UNANTICIPATED STOP. FORTUNATELY, THE ACFT (A FORMER US NAVY TH57C) IS EQUIPPED FOR, AND MAINTAINED FOR, ALTHOUGH NOT NORMALLY OPERATED IN IFR FLT. AGENCY PLTS ARE ALSO TRAINED, CERTIFIED, AND CURRENT FOR ROTARY WING IFR FLT. LESSON LEARNED: I FELT MY PLANNING WAS ADEQUATE AND MY CORRECTIVE ACTION APPROPRIATE. THE LESSON IS REALLY HOW QUICKLY SVFR CAN BECOME IMC.

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.