S58P pilot operated VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	481090
Time
Date	200007
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pwk.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon tower : mei.tower
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	S-58/S-58T Choctaw/Seahorse
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	481090
Person 2
Affiliation	company other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was to conduct far part 133 operations at the point described above. After receiving a WX brief, I decided operations could be conducted outside controled airspace. I knew pwk tower was closed until XB00. I assumed pwk class D airspace was class G when the tower was closed, and did not check pubs. Upon completion of the work and return to the heliport, the chief pilot discussed the job with me. After the discussion, I realized that pwk was, in fact, class east to the surface, under the control of chicago approach. Since the incident, I have not and will not operate at or near an airport without checking AFD and NOTAMS. I have carried this publication with me on all flts in case a deviation in-flight is required.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: S58P PLT OPERATED VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: I WAS TO CONDUCT FAR PART 133 OPS AT THE POINT DESCRIBED ABOVE. AFTER RECEIVING A WX BRIEF, I DECIDED OPS COULD BE CONDUCTED OUTSIDE CTLED AIRSPACE. I KNEW PWK TWR WAS CLOSED UNTIL XB00. I ASSUMED PWK CLASS D AIRSPACE WAS CLASS G WHEN THE TWR WAS CLOSED, AND DID NOT CHK PUBS. UPON COMPLETION OF THE WORK AND RETURN TO THE HELIPORT, THE CHIEF PLT DISCUSSED THE JOB WITH ME. AFTER THE DISCUSSION, I REALIZED THAT PWK WAS, IN FACT, CLASS E TO THE SURFACE, UNDER THE CTL OF CHICAGO APCH. SINCE THE INCIDENT, I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT OPERATE AT OR NEAR AN ARPT WITHOUT CHKING AFD AND NOTAMS. I HAVE CARRIED THIS PUB WITH ME ON ALL FLTS IN CASE A DEV INFLT IS REQUIRED.

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.