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EMS helicopter carrying patient to hospital encounters IMC and continue to destination with ATC assistance. Pilot instrument rated, but not current.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 128804 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198911 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zzz |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Dawn |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : zzz |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Helicopter |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent : approach landing other |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 40 |
| ASRS Report | 128804 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : became reoriented other |
| Consequence | faa : investigated |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
While carrying a patient to a hospital in ZZZ, I inadvertently entered IFR conditions. These conditions were not forecast or reported on the ATIS. I continued in IFR conditions and called approach control believing I would exit IFR conditions in a short while (based on WX reports). I was given and accepted an ILS approach, however I fell through the localizer and had to call approach control for clarification of my position. They gave me an ASR approach and I broke out at 1200' and continued to the hospital. I believe a more comprehensive WX network that reports after hours would have possibly given me a more accurate WX picture; however, in the interest of ultimate safety, I should have turned back to the origination hospital as soon as I encounter IFR conditions. The aircraft and I am instrument qualified, but I am not instrument current.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: EMS HELICOPTER CARRYING PATIENT TO HOSPITAL ENCOUNTERS IMC AND CONTINUE TO DESTINATION WITH ATC ASSISTANCE. PLT INSTRUMENT RATED, BUT NOT CURRENT.
Narrative: WHILE CARRYING A PATIENT TO A HOSPITAL IN ZZZ, I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IFR CONDITIONS. THESE CONDITIONS WERE NOT FORECAST OR RPTED ON THE ATIS. I CONTINUED IN IFR CONDITIONS AND CALLED APCH CTL BELIEVING I WOULD EXIT IFR CONDITIONS IN A SHORT WHILE (BASED ON WX RPTS). I WAS GIVEN AND ACCEPTED AN ILS APCH, HOWEVER I FELL THROUGH THE LOC AND HAD TO CALL APCH CTL FOR CLARIFICATION OF MY POS. THEY GAVE ME AN ASR APCH AND I BROKE OUT AT 1200' AND CONTINUED TO THE HOSPITAL. I BELIEVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE WX NETWORK THAT RPTS AFTER HRS WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY GIVEN ME A MORE ACCURATE WX PICTURE; HOWEVER, IN THE INTEREST OF ULTIMATE SAFETY, I SHOULD HAVE TURNED BACK TO THE ORIGINATION HOSPITAL AS SOON AS I ENCOUNTER IFR CONDITIONS. THE ACFT AND I AM INST QUALIFIED, BUT I AM NOT INST CURRENT.
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.