EMS helicopter pilot began approach to a runway that was below charted WX minimums, and did not have...

Attributes
ACN	590002
Time
Date	200308
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Fog
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	Other
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 4
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 10500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	590002
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : executed missed approach none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Part 91 reposition flight to ZZZ IFR. I was cleared for the ILS approach at ZZZ. The WX was at or below visibility minimums, but knowing that, the AWOS is located next to a boggy area, it gives erroneous reading concerning fog, which was present. During the approach from procedure turn through 500 ft AGL, I was VMC. After completing the procedure turn, I changed the EFIS to monitor the localizer. The inbound course was 038 degrees -- which I had set while monitoring the GPS. When I switched to localizer mode, the course selector went to 138 degrees, which I did not immediately notice. The aircraft is equipped with an mfd moving map display, and when the flight director picked up the ILS signal, it attempted to fly a 138 degree ILS course. I noticed the discrepancy on the moving map about the same time that center advised me that I was right off course. I responded that I was correcting, and since I was VMC and also was equipped with egpws, I thought that I could get back to course prior to entering the fog layer. Center then advised me of terrain in the area and suggested a missed approach. I complied with the advice, missed and went back to the NDB and re-shot the complete approach with no problems except that I didn't break out. The problem arose from the function of the ILS and the flight director and the EFIS. In all other aircraft I have flown, when an ILS frequency is dialed up, the course selector has no function. As a result, I did not double-check the course selector. I do not have any idea why anyone would use an ILS on a course other than the final approach course or back course, so why should the course selector even work in ILS mode? I did get full needle deflection on the needle when I put in the proper course, but elected to continue because I was VMC and had a good sense of situational awareness. I should have immediately executed the missed approach instead of waiting to be prodded to do so by the center controller. The controller acted in a very professional manner and was absolutely correct in recommending the missed approach. In other sits, his actions could have saved lives. I applaud him.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMS HELI PLT BEGAN APCH TO A RWY THAT WAS BELOW CHARTED WX MINIMUMS, AND DID NOT HAVE THE ACFT PROPERLY CONFIGURED FOR THE APCH.

Narrative: PART 91 REPOSITION FLT TO ZZZ IFR. I WAS CLRED FOR THE ILS APCH AT ZZZ. THE WX WAS AT OR BELOW VISIBILITY MINIMUMS, BUT KNOWING THAT, THE AWOS IS LOCATED NEXT TO A BOGGY AREA, IT GIVES ERRONEOUS READING CONCERNING FOG, WHICH WAS PRESENT. DURING THE APCH FROM PROC TURN THROUGH 500 FT AGL, I WAS VMC. AFTER COMPLETING THE PROC TURN, I CHANGED THE EFIS TO MONITOR THE LOC. THE INBOUND COURSE WAS 038 DEGS -- WHICH I HAD SET WHILE MONITORING THE GPS. WHEN I SWITCHED TO LOC MODE, THE COURSE SELECTOR WENT TO 138 DEGS, WHICH I DID NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTICE. THE ACFT IS EQUIPPED WITH AN MFD MOVING MAP DISPLAY, AND WHEN THE FLT DIRECTOR PICKED UP THE ILS SIGNAL, IT ATTEMPTED TO FLY A 138 DEG ILS COURSE. I NOTICED THE DISCREPANCY ON THE MOVING MAP ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT CTR ADVISED ME THAT I WAS R OFF COURSE. I RESPONDED THAT I WAS CORRECTING, AND SINCE I WAS VMC AND ALSO WAS EQUIPPED WITH EGPWS, I THOUGHT THAT I COULD GET BACK TO COURSE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE FOG LAYER. CTR THEN ADVISED ME OF TERRAIN IN THE AREA AND SUGGESTED A MISSED APCH. I COMPLIED WITH THE ADVICE, MISSED AND WENT BACK TO THE NDB AND RE-SHOT THE COMPLETE APCH WITH NO PROBS EXCEPT THAT I DIDN'T BREAK OUT. THE PROB AROSE FROM THE FUNCTION OF THE ILS AND THE FLT DIRECTOR AND THE EFIS. IN ALL OTHER ACFT I HAVE FLOWN, WHEN AN ILS FREQ IS DIALED UP, THE COURSE SELECTOR HAS NO FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, I DID NOT DOUBLE-CHK THE COURSE SELECTOR. I DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHY ANYONE WOULD USE AN ILS ON A COURSE OTHER THAN THE FINAL APCH COURSE OR BACK COURSE, SO WHY SHOULD THE COURSE SELECTOR EVEN WORK IN ILS MODE? I DID GET FULL NEEDLE DEFLECTION ON THE NEEDLE WHEN I PUT IN THE PROPER COURSE, BUT ELECTED TO CONTINUE BECAUSE I WAS VMC AND HAD A GOOD SENSE OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED THE MISSED APCH INSTEAD OF WAITING TO BE PRODDED TO DO SO BY THE CTR CTLR. THE CTLR ACTED IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN RECOMMENDING THE MISSED APCH. IN OTHER SITS, HIS ACTIONS COULD HAVE SAVED LIVES. I APPLAUD HIM.

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.

EMS helicopter pilot began approach to a runway that was below charted WX minimums, and did not have the aircraft properly configured for the approach.