GA small aircraft medical evacuation helicopter diversion to parking lot due enroute WX.

Attributes
ACN	81069
Time
Date	198801
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 4600 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	81069
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

At approximately XA46 on 1/sun/88, we responded to a car accident 2 mi north of city on highway. We arrived at the scene at XA54. WX conditions through XB00 were forecast for 2000 overcast, 3 mi visibility with light snow. Wind were forecast for 270 degrees, 15 KTS. At XB30 forecast WX was sky obscured, 1000 broken, 2 mi visibility, light snow and winds 330 degrees at 28 gusting to 40 KTS. At XA50 the actual WX was 2800 broken, 3700 overcast, 10 mi visibility, light snow and winds were west at 15 KTS. We departed the scene at XB12. At XB16 we had frontal passage and WX deteriorated. Upon entering the front I encountered strong winds and low visibility and decided to turn around. I made a 180 degree turn and exited the front. I flew approximately 2 mi and made a precautionary landing at mall. Dispatch was notified of my decision and they, in turn, notified fire paramedics for assistance in transportation of the patient. At this time it was 2100 overcast, 3/8 mi with light snow an blowing snow. Winds were 310 degrees at 26 KTS, gusting to 34 KTS. I remained with the aircraft, on the ground, for approximately 30 mins until the WX improved and then departed for the hospital. At this time the WX was VFR. Enclosed you will find a copy of the letter from me dated 12/wed/87, requesting lower minimums. The new minimums were approved by FAA on 1/fri/88.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA MEDICAL EVACUATION HELICOPTER DIVERSION TO PARKING LOT DUE ENROUTE WX.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA46 ON 1/SUN/88, WE RESPONDED TO A CAR ACCIDENT 2 MI N OF CITY ON HWY. WE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AT XA54. WX CONDITIONS THROUGH XB00 WERE FORECAST FOR 2000 OVCST, 3 MI VIS WITH LIGHT SNOW. WIND WERE FORECAST FOR 270 DEGS, 15 KTS. AT XB30 FORECAST WX WAS SKY OBSCURED, 1000 BROKEN, 2 MI VIS, LIGHT SNOW AND WINDS 330 DEGS AT 28 GUSTING TO 40 KTS. AT XA50 THE ACTUAL WX WAS 2800 BROKEN, 3700 OVCST, 10 MI VIS, LIGHT SNOW AND WINDS WERE W AT 15 KTS. WE DEPARTED THE SCENE AT XB12. AT XB16 WE HAD FRONTAL PASSAGE AND WX DETERIORATED. UPON ENTERING THE FRONT I ENCOUNTERED STRONG WINDS AND LOW VIS AND DECIDED TO TURN AROUND. I MADE A 180 DEG TURN AND EXITED THE FRONT. I FLEW APPROX 2 MI AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT MALL. DISPATCH WAS NOTIFIED OF MY DECISION AND THEY, IN TURN, NOTIFIED FIRE PARAMEDICS FOR ASSISTANCE IN TRANSPORTATION OF THE PATIENT. AT THIS TIME IT WAS 2100 OVCST, 3/8 MI WITH LIGHT SNOW AN BLOWING SNOW. WINDS WERE 310 DEGS AT 26 KTS, GUSTING TO 34 KTS. I REMAINED WITH THE ACFT, ON THE GND, FOR APPROX 30 MINS UNTIL THE WX IMPROVED AND THEN DEPARTED FOR THE HOSPITAL. AT THIS TIME THE WX WAS VFR. ENCLOSED YOU WILL FIND A COPY OF THE LETTER FROM ME DATED 12/WED/87, REQUESTING LOWER MINIMUMS. THE NEW MINIMUMS WERE APPROVED BY FAA ON 1/FRI/88.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.