Narrative:

Early evening, I departed in an AS350BA, from the coushatta indian reservation returning to hou. After a very short period of flight (approximately 30 mins) the visibility was deteriorating very rapidly. I elected to divert to cwf for a WX check and add additional fuel. Approximately 15-20 mi north of the airfield, I attempted to dial in the frequency and was unable to raise anyone. At this time, WX conditions were deteriorating very rapidly and since I was the only rated pilot aboard and safety of flight was becoming critical, I elected to offset myself to the east side of the runway to avoid any landing instrument traffic and make a landing for the safety of my passenger. I was now worried about spatial disorientation from too much or any head movement so again elected not to try to reset transponder for loss of communication. From the time this entire sequence of events started until I was at the FBO, I estimate the WX had gone from approximately 1500 ft ceiling and 6 or more miles visibility to indefinite obscured and 100 ft ceiling. When I reached the ground and began a conversation with a tower operator, he was extremely rude and indicated I should have put the helicopter down anywhere 'out there.' that is extremely unsafe and not prudent. It was at night, unfamiliar territory, deteriorating WX, no knowledge of where wires or any other obstruction was located, this can create a very hazardous situation for a helicopter. I felt compelled with the gravity of the situation to exercise my emergency deviation ability. I am a dual rated ATP, CFI, and cfii. I also hold agi and igi certificates.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HELI PLT ATTEMPTING TO AVOID RAPIDLY DETERIORATING WX AND UNABLE TO CONTACT THE LCL CTLR ENTERS CWF CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC AND LANDS NEAR THE RWY. THE LCL CTLR EXPRESSES IRRITATION THAT THE LNDG WAS NOT MADE OFF THE ARPT.

Narrative: EARLY EVENING, I DEPARTED IN AN AS350BA, FROM THE COUSHATTA INDIAN RESERVATION RETURNING TO HOU. AFTER A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF FLT (APPROX 30 MINS) THE VISIBILITY WAS DETERIORATING VERY RAPIDLY. I ELECTED TO DIVERT TO CWF FOR A WX CHK AND ADD ADDITIONAL FUEL. APPROX 15-20 MI N OF THE AIRFIELD, I ATTEMPTED TO DIAL IN THE FREQ AND WAS UNABLE TO RAISE ANYONE. AT THIS TIME, WX CONDITIONS WERE DETERIORATING VERY RAPIDLY AND SINCE I WAS THE ONLY RATED PLT ABOARD AND SAFETY OF FLT WAS BECOMING CRITICAL, I ELECTED TO OFFSET MYSELF TO THE E SIDE OF THE RWY TO AVOID ANY LNDG INST TFC AND MAKE A LNDG FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PAX. I WAS NOW WORRIED ABOUT SPATIAL DISORIENTATION FROM TOO MUCH OR ANY HEAD MOVEMENT SO AGAIN ELECTED NOT TO TRY TO RESET XPONDER FOR LOSS OF COM. FROM THE TIME THIS ENTIRE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS STARTED UNTIL I WAS AT THE FBO, I ESTIMATE THE WX HAD GONE FROM APPROX 1500 FT CEILING AND 6 OR MORE MILES VISIBILITY TO INDEFINITE OBSCURED AND 100 FT CEILING. WHEN I REACHED THE GND AND BEGAN A CONVERSATION WITH A TWR OPERATOR, HE WAS EXTREMELY RUDE AND INDICATED I SHOULD HAVE PUT THE HELI DOWN ANYWHERE 'OUT THERE.' THAT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND NOT PRUDENT. IT WAS AT NIGHT, UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY, DETERIORATING WX, NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE WIRES OR ANY OTHER OBSTRUCTION WAS LOCATED, THIS CAN CREATE A VERY HAZARDOUS SIT FOR A HELI. I FELT COMPELLED WITH THE GRAVITY OF THE SIT TO EXERCISE MY EMER DEV ABILITY. I AM A DUAL RATED ATP, CFI, AND CFII. I ALSO HOLD AGI AND IGI CERTIFICATES.

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.