B190 flight crew encounter IMC when conducting a VFR maintenance test in hef traffic pattern.

Attributes
ACN	596458
Time
Date	200310
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hef.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 700 agl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hef.tower
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Beech 1900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	596458
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was conducting a maintenance test flight that was to test engine rigging. Only 1 takeoff and landing was necessary. A cold front (rapidly moving) was on the way. But, since the flight was only 1 lap in the traffic pattern, and the tower reported 7 mi visibility, 2200 ft broken, I thought there was enough time. We took off and about 700 to 800 ft AGL were completely engulfed in solid IMC. So, I climbed to pattern altitude and circled over the field while we talked to the tower and explained the situation. The controller in the tower that night did an outstanding job. He gave us a local clearance and vectored us on final and we made a safe landing. The urge to get a simple test flight out of the way was not a good idea. This was a learning experience. I delayed the subsequent reposition flight for 1 1/2 hours for the front to pass. The test flight should have waited as well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B190 FLT CREW ENCOUNTER IMC WHEN CONDUCTING A VFR MAINT TEST IN HEF TFC PATTERN.

Narrative: I WAS CONDUCTING A MAINT TEST FLT THAT WAS TO TEST ENG RIGGING. ONLY 1 TKOF AND LNDG WAS NECESSARY. A COLD FRONT (RAPIDLY MOVING) WAS ON THE WAY. BUT, SINCE THE FLT WAS ONLY 1 LAP IN THE TFC PATTERN, AND THE TWR RPTED 7 MI VISIBILITY, 2200 FT BROKEN, I THOUGHT THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME. WE TOOK OFF AND ABOUT 700 TO 800 FT AGL WERE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN SOLID IMC. SO, I CLBED TO PATTERN ALT AND CIRCLED OVER THE FIELD WHILE WE TALKED TO THE TWR AND EXPLAINED THE SIT. THE CTLR IN THE TWR THAT NIGHT DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. HE GAVE US A LCL CLRNC AND VECTORED US ON FINAL AND WE MADE A SAFE LNDG. THE URGE TO GET A SIMPLE TEST FLT OUT OF THE WAY WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA. THIS WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I DELAYED THE SUBSEQUENT REPOSITION FLT FOR 1 1/2 HRS FOR THE FRONT TO PASS. THE TEST FLT SHOULD HAVE WAITED AS WELL.

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.