Narrative:

We were transporting a respiratory distress patient on cpap machine from one hospital to another. Weather was forecast for VFR and ATIS at an airport near our destination airport was reporting 6;000 overcast when 15 minutes out. I noted thin ground fog forming and monitored that ATIS continuously. 15 miles out we encountered a broken cloud layer and called the TRACON. They advised I was clear of obstacles if I could get down to VMC. We found a large open area and attempted a descent. At 800 MSL we went inadvertent IMC. I immediately initiated a climb and contacted approach requesting they pick me up for an instrument approach. They gave me a squawk and had me level at 1600 ft. At this time my medics advised me that we were out of oxygen and the patient's condition was desperate. I had to request vectors from approach while I examined the approach plate and set up my garmin 530 GNS and advised approach that we had a critical patient and needed an ambulance. After receiving vectors I was given a heading and cleared for the approach. After a moment I noted that I was not getting localizer capture and so advised. Approach advised me that I was on localizer and their equipment was working. I quickly loaded the localizer frequency into the backup nav radio. The backup obs showed me left of course but still captured. I continued the approach breaking out at about 800 ft. Upon breaking out I could see the general area of the hospital and that was the best last chance for the patient. I requested to divert from landing and to proceed to the hospital. They cleared me for that option. The flight from the approach path of the airport and the hospital was uneventful. During the time I was reviewing the approach plate and the distraction by my medical crew I allowed my altitude to increase by 400 ft. During the vectors to the approach I failed to switch the localizer frequency of the GNS (GPS navigation system) into the active window preventing vloc switch over...thereby preventing localizer capture...and creating the rush to load the backup nav. We are normally adamant about practicing instrument approaches monthly and a review of my logbook reveals I have not practiced an instrument approach in 3 months and no ILS for 5 months. This resulted in a decay of proficiency to dangerous levels.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An EMS helicopter pilot with little recent IFR experience found himself inadvertently in IMC conditions and experienced difficulties configuring for and flying an ILS approach. ATC provided a welcome assist.

Narrative: We were transporting a respiratory distress patient on CPAP machine from one hospital to another. Weather was forecast for VFR and ATIS at an airport near our destination airport was reporting 6;000 overcast when 15 minutes out. I noted thin ground fog forming and monitored that ATIS continuously. 15 miles out we encountered a broken cloud layer and called the TRACON. They advised I was clear of obstacles if I could get down to VMC. We found a large open area and attempted a descent. At 800 MSL we went inadvertent IMC. I immediately initiated a climb and contacted approach requesting they pick me up for an instrument approach. They gave me a squawk and had me level at 1600 FT. At this time my medics advised me that we were out of oxygen and the patient's condition was desperate. I had to request vectors from approach while I examined the approach plate and set up my Garmin 530 GNS and advised approach that we had a critical patient and needed an ambulance. After receiving vectors I was given a heading and cleared for the approach. After a moment I noted that I was not getting localizer capture and so advised. Approach advised me that I was on localizer and their equipment was working. I quickly loaded the localizer frequency into the backup nav radio. The backup OBS showed me left of course but still captured. I continued the approach breaking out at about 800 FT. Upon breaking out I could see the general area of the hospital and that was the best last chance for the patient. I requested to divert from landing and to proceed to the hospital. They cleared me for that option. The flight from the approach path of the airport and the hospital was uneventful. During the time I was reviewing the approach plate and the distraction by my medical crew I allowed my altitude to increase by 400 FT. During the vectors to the approach I failed to switch the localizer frequency of the GNS (GPS Navigation System) into the active window preventing VLOC switch over...thereby preventing localizer capture...and creating the rush to load the backup nav. We are normally adamant about practicing instrument approaches monthly and a review of my logbook reveals I have not practiced an instrument approach in 3 months and no ILS for 5 months. This resulted in a decay of proficiency to dangerous levels.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.