Helicopter pilot operates within ddc control zone in below VMC without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	205050
Time
Date	199203
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ddc
State Reference	KS
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 3200 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	205050
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I gave a short demonstration flight to the person that assisted me in moving the aircraft. On a regular basis I operate out of two different airports which both have instrument approachs, but neither one have a control zone. (Either part time or full time). There are at times flts conducted in the traffic pattern at these airports when WX is below VFR minimums. I am always aware, and monitoring the frequency and giving position reports (as I did during this situation) while operating at these locations. When the event occurred I was returning to the airport and was informed by a commuter pilot that I should contact center about operating in a control zone without a clearance when it is below VFR minimums. I immediately landed. Realizing the mistake, I contacted center via FSS and received a special VFR clearance and departure the control zone then reported clear, as instructed. I am well aware of the requirements to establish a control zone as well as what the requirements are to operate into or out of the same. I think because of my regular operations from an airport without a control zone, led me to think that's what I was doing when this event occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI PLT OPERATES WITHIN DDC CTL ZONE IN BELOW VMC WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I GAVE A SHORT DEMONSTRATION FLT TO THE PERSON THAT ASSISTED ME IN MOVING THE ACFT. ON A REGULAR BASIS I OPERATE OUT OF TWO DIFFERENT ARPTS WHICH BOTH HAVE INST APCHS, BUT NEITHER ONE HAVE A CTL ZONE. (EITHER PART TIME OR FULL TIME). THERE ARE AT TIMES FLTS CONDUCTED IN THE TFC PATTERN AT THESE ARPTS WHEN WX IS BELOW VFR MINIMUMS. I AM ALWAYS AWARE, AND MONITORING THE FREQ AND GIVING POS RPTS (AS I DID DURING THIS SITUATION) WHILE OPERATING AT THESE LOCATIONS. WHEN THE EVENT OCCURRED I WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT AND WAS INFORMED BY A COMMUTER PLT THAT I SHOULD CONTACT CTR ABOUT OPERATING IN A CTL ZONE WITHOUT A CLRNC WHEN IT IS BELOW VFR MINIMUMS. I IMMEDIATELY LANDED. REALIZING THE MISTAKE, I CONTACTED CTR VIA FSS AND RECEIVED A SPECIAL VFR CLRNC AND DEP THE CTL ZONE THEN REPORTED CLR, AS INSTRUCTED. I AM WELL AWARE OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO ESTABLISH A CTL ZONE AS WELL AS WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE TO OPERATE INTO OR OUT OF THE SAME. I THINK BECAUSE OF MY REGULAR OPS FROM AN ARPT WITHOUT A CTL ZONE, LED ME TO THINK THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING WHEN THIS EVENT OCCURRED.

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.