An EMS helicopter pilot flew VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	316351
Time
Date	199509
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
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	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	316351
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility

Narrative:

I had filed an IFR to the hospital. I had made an instrument approach to airport and proceeded to the destination. Coming back into airport for fuel after dropping off EMS crew, I was unable to talk to ATC due to low altitude. I landed and departed airport low level back to hospital without 'special' VFR clearance. In the future, I will contact FSS for a special clearance by phone if necessary, and have reviewed the new airspace restrs!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMS HELI PLT FLEW VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: I HAD FILED AN IFR TO THE HOSPITAL. I HAD MADE AN INST APCH TO ARPT AND PROCEEDED TO THE DEST. COMING BACK INTO ARPT FOR FUEL AFTER DROPPING OFF EMS CREW, I WAS UNABLE TO TALK TO ATC DUE TO LOW ALT. I LANDED AND DEPARTED ARPT LOW LEVEL BACK TO HOSPITAL WITHOUT 'SPECIAL' VFR CLRNC. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL CONTACT FSS FOR A SPECIAL CLRNC BY PHONE IF NECESSARY, AND HAVE REVIEWED THE NEW AIRSPACE RESTRS!

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.