Atx EMS aircraft lands after making approach with less than legal limits.

Attributes
ACN	167116
Time
Date	199101
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sff
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2900 msl bound upper : 2900
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : geg
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4000
ASRS Report	167116
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Lifeguard helicopter was cleared for an approach into felts field by geg approach. We had a forecast for felts field, but did not have current WX conditions. We tried to get ATIS on numerous occasions, but could not receive it. We received WX from geg, which read: 1200' obscured, 1 1/4 mi visibility, 5000' RVR. When we were assigned the approach, we assumed WX was above minimums. We continued on the approach and broke out at about 1500' above the ground and continued the approach. We saw the runway strobes at about 1 1/2 mi out and continued. We stayed at 2900' for a bit until we had the whole runway in sight. The rest of the final approach and landing were normal. When we got back in, I called FSS to find out current conditions at the airport. He said it was 1 mi visibility, 1500' broken. Had we received ATIS, we would have made the decision to divert to geg. The problem with ATIS has been an ongoing problem at felts field, and is something that we have to deal with on a regular basis. It hasn't caused a problem in the past, but has obviously caused concern now.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATX EMS ACFT LANDS AFTER MAKING APCH WITH LESS THAN LEGAL LIMITS.

Narrative: LIFEGUARD HELI WAS CLRED FOR AN APCH INTO FELTS FIELD BY GEG APCH. WE HAD A FORECAST FOR FELTS FIELD, BUT DID NOT HAVE CURRENT WX CONDITIONS. WE TRIED TO GET ATIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT COULD NOT RECEIVE IT. WE RECEIVED WX FROM GEG, WHICH READ: 1200' OBSCURED, 1 1/4 MI VISIBILITY, 5000' RVR. WHEN WE WERE ASSIGNED THE APCH, WE ASSUMED WX WAS ABOVE MINIMUMS. WE CONTINUED ON THE APCH AND BROKE OUT AT ABOUT 1500' ABOVE THE GND AND CONTINUED THE APCH. WE SAW THE RWY STROBES AT ABOUT 1 1/2 MI OUT AND CONTINUED. WE STAYED AT 2900' FOR A BIT UNTIL WE HAD THE WHOLE RWY IN SIGHT. THE REST OF THE FINAL APCH AND LNDG WERE NORMAL. WHEN WE GOT BACK IN, I CALLED FSS TO FIND OUT CURRENT CONDITIONS AT THE ARPT. HE SAID IT WAS 1 MI VISIBILITY, 1500' BROKEN. HAD WE RECEIVED ATIS, WE WOULD HAVE MADE THE DECISION TO DIVERT TO GEG. THE PROB WITH ATIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROB AT FELTS FIELD, AND IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT HASN'T CAUSED A PROB IN THE PAST, BUT HAS OBVIOUSLY CAUSED CONCERN NOW.

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.