Narrative:

Performing as a commercial helicopter pilot, conducting a routine work crew change at an offshore platform, I encountered WX condition other than forecast. The company that employs me requires that I try to maintain 500 ft ceiling and 3 mi visibility en route. Unable to maintain operations manual requirements, my corrective action was a 180 degree turn to return to starting point. While en route WX deteriorated, I performed a descent to 300 ft and visibility remained 1-2 mi, noticed better WX conditions and flew to that location in search of an alternate platform in order to land. There were no platforms in the clear area and flight visibility was declining due to fog and haze. Instead of trying to maintain VFR in deteriorating WX conditions I performed an ascent to 1200 ft and turned to a heading that would return my aircraft to company shore base. I contacted my company flight following and informed them of my status and intentions. My status was IFR on top and intentions were if possible return to VFR conditions or perform an ASR approach to lafayette regional airport. En route I received a PIREP that stated VFR conditions existed 20 mi south of my shore base and immediately proceeded to that location. Upon arrival I was able to perform a VFR descent and return to company shore base in VFR conditions. I then completed as required by company manual an incident report and submitted to company chief pilot. I believe the primary factor concerning this incident was the WX. Improving or increasing offshore WX stations may aid in prevention of further such incidents.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN ATX HELI CLBED THROUGH AN OVCST VFR TO ON TOP CONTRARY TO THE FARS DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN CLOUD CLRNC AS REQUIRED BY HIS COMPANY'S OPS PROCS MANUAL. HE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND VFR CONDITIONS IN WHICH TO DSND AND LAND BACK AT HOME BASE.

Narrative: PERFORMING AS A COMMERCIAL HELI PLT, CONDUCTING A ROUTINE WORK CREW CHANGE AT AN OFFSHORE PLATFORM, I ENCOUNTERED WX CONDITION OTHER THAN FORECAST. THE COMPANY THAT EMPLOYS ME REQUIRES THAT I TRY TO MAINTAIN 500 FT CEILING AND 3 MI VISIBILITY ENRTE. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN OPS MANUAL REQUIREMENTS, MY CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS A 180 DEG TURN TO RETURN TO STARTING POINT. WHILE ENRTE WX DETERIORATED, I PERFORMED A DSCNT TO 300 FT AND VISIBILITY REMAINED 1-2 MI, NOTICED BETTER WX CONDITIONS AND FLEW TO THAT LOCATION IN SEARCH OF AN ALTERNATE PLATFORM IN ORDER TO LAND. THERE WERE NO PLATFORMS IN THE CLR AREA AND FLT VISIBILITY WAS DECLINING DUE TO FOG AND HAZE. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN VFR IN DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS I PERFORMED AN ASCENT TO 1200 FT AND TURNED TO A HDG THAT WOULD RETURN MY ACFT TO COMPANY SHORE BASE. I CONTACTED MY COMPANY FLT FOLLOWING AND INFORMED THEM OF MY STATUS AND INTENTIONS. MY STATUS WAS IFR ON TOP AND INTENTIONS WERE IF POSSIBLE RETURN TO VFR CONDITIONS OR PERFORM AN ASR APCH TO LAFAYETTE REGIONAL ARPT. ENRTE I RECEIVED A PIREP THAT STATED VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED 20 MI S OF MY SHORE BASE AND IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO THAT LOCATION. UPON ARR I WAS ABLE TO PERFORM A VFR DSCNT AND RETURN TO COMPANY SHORE BASE IN VFR CONDITIONS. I THEN COMPLETED AS REQUIRED BY COMPANY MANUAL AN INCIDENT RPT AND SUBMITTED TO COMPANY CHIEF PLT. I BELIEVE THE PRIMARY FACTOR CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT WAS THE WX. IMPROVING OR INCREASING OFFSHORE WX STATIONS MAY AID IN PREVENTION OF FURTHER SUCH INCIDENTS.

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.