Helicopter iced up at 13800 ft and descended to below the clouds at 10000 ft before the descent coul...

Attributes
ACN	285955
Time
Date	199410
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 10000 msl bound upper : 13800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	285955
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

On climb out at 13800 ft climbing to 14000 ft experienced an uncommanded descent. Called ZDV and broadcast a mayday that we were unable to maintain altitude. In 10-20 seconds we broke out of the bottom of overcast at 10000 ft and canceled IFR and returned to home base at 8500 ft VFR. Called station chief at ZZZ ask if they wanted a WX report. I was informed that that was not necessary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI ICED UP AT 13800 FT AND DSNDED TO BELOW THE CLOUDS AT 10000 FT BEFORE THE DSCNT COULD BE ARRESTED.

Narrative: ON CLB OUT AT 13800 FT CLBING TO 14000 FT EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED DSCNT. CALLED ZDV AND BROADCAST A MAYDAY THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT. IN 10-20 SECONDS WE BROKE OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF OVCST AT 10000 FT AND CANCELED IFR AND RETURNED TO HOME BASE AT 8500 FT VFR. CALLED STATION CHIEF AT ZZZ ASK IF THEY WANTED A WX RPT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY.

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.

Helicopter iced up at 13800 ft and descended to below the clouds at 10000 ft before the descent could be arrested.