Captain of a cpr helicopter flew into IMC during departure climb out and erroneously penetrated class B airspace. First officer advised captain that they should do a 180 degree turn to exit the IMC since they had no IFR clearance, but he continued to climb through the fog bank to on top.

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Attributes
ACN	383219
Time
Date	199710
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mmu
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 600 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : svfr
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	383219
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The WX deteriorated unexpectedly. Our passenger arrived. We were going to fly mmu-ewr-new york city. Ewr and the city were reporting much better WX than mmu. We departed SVFR and it was (to me) quickly obvious the WX was too bad to continue and we should do a 180 degree. The PF (also the chief pilot) elected to climb over/into the fog. There wasn't time to discuss this but it certainly was also not the time to argue. IFR climb, broke out at 2000 ft MSL. I suggested to turn away from ewr class B but PF continued on route by GPS. I contacted ewr and received a class B clearance, VFR. Controllers never knew we went IMC briefly and entered class B initially without a clearance. After ewr WX improved, rest of flight legal. I flew with 2 pilots. The other 'line' pilot and I would readily do a 180 degree when at all possible and or advise ATC of our predicament. But give our chief pilot a passenger and I don't think he can do a 180 degree. I can't change him, but tomorrow morning I am handing in my resignation to this flight department.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A CPR HELI FLEW INTO IMC DURING DEP CLBOUT AND ERRONEOUSLY PENETRATED CLASS B AIRSPACE. FO ADVISED CAPT THAT THEY SHOULD DO A 180 DEG TURN TO EXIT THE IMC SINCE THEY HAD NO IFR CLRNC, BUT HE CONTINUED TO CLB THROUGH THE FOG BANK TO ON TOP.

Narrative: THE WX DETERIORATED UNEXPECTEDLY. OUR PAX ARRIVED. WE WERE GOING TO FLY MMU-EWR-NEW YORK CITY. EWR AND THE CITY WERE RPTING MUCH BETTER WX THAN MMU. WE DEPARTED SVFR AND IT WAS (TO ME) QUICKLY OBVIOUS THE WX WAS TOO BAD TO CONTINUE AND WE SHOULD DO A 180 DEG. THE PF (ALSO THE CHIEF PLT) ELECTED TO CLB OVER/INTO THE FOG. THERE WASN'T TIME TO DISCUSS THIS BUT IT CERTAINLY WAS ALSO NOT THE TIME TO ARGUE. IFR CLB, BROKE OUT AT 2000 FT MSL. I SUGGESTED TO TURN AWAY FROM EWR CLASS B BUT PF CONTINUED ON RTE BY GPS. I CONTACTED EWR AND RECEIVED A CLASS B CLRNC, VFR. CTLRS NEVER KNEW WE WENT IMC BRIEFLY AND ENTERED CLASS B INITIALLY WITHOUT A CLRNC. AFTER EWR WX IMPROVED, REST OF FLT LEGAL. I FLEW WITH 2 PLTS. THE OTHER 'LINE' PLT AND I WOULD READILY DO A 180 DEG WHEN AT ALL POSSIBLE AND OR ADVISE ATC OF OUR PREDICAMENT. BUT GIVE OUR CHIEF PLT A PAX AND I DON'T THINK HE CAN DO A 180 DEG. I CAN'T CHANGE HIM, BUT TOMORROW MORNING I AM HANDING IN MY RESIGNATION TO THIS FLT DEPT.

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.