A helicopter captain inadvertently entered IMC while flying under VFR.

Attributes
ACN	490646
Time
Date	200011
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz.artcc
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 12500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	490646
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

I departed ZZZ at approximately XA00 responding to a call. In en route, I encountered nothing unusual except a few patches of lower clouds to the south and west of the landing zone. After a brief orbit to make way for a departing aircraft, I landed. I was loaded in approximately 10 mins and we departed on a direct route. ZZZ on departure, I observed the WX in the area appeared clear, I was able to see stars and the distant lights. I initially climbed to 11000 ft to ensure adequate terrain clearance and selected a heading, which would steer me well clear of terrain. During the climb out, I found myself inadvertently positioned between two cloud layers and gradually losing visual reference. I briefly saw the stars above me and thought I could get on top by climbing a little higher. It was at this time I realized I had lost visual reference and elected to transition to the instruments. I contacted ARTCC and appraised them of my situation. Center issued me a squawk code and suggested I climb to 12500 ft. Shortly after my initial contact with ARTCC, I was able to clearly establish visual reference with the terrain and proceeded directly to ZZZ.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HELI CAPT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC WHILE FLYING UNDER VFR.

Narrative: I DEPARTED ZZZ AT APPROX XA00 RESPONDING TO A CALL. IN ENRTE, I ENCOUNTERED NOTHING UNUSUAL EXCEPT A FEW PATCHES OF LOWER CLOUDS TO THE S AND W OF THE LNDG ZONE. AFTER A BRIEF ORBIT TO MAKE WAY FOR A DEPARTING ACFT, I LANDED. I WAS LOADED IN APPROX 10 MINS AND WE DEPARTED ON A DIRECT RTE. ZZZ ON DEP, I OBSERVED THE WX IN THE AREA APPEARED CLR, I WAS ABLE TO SEE STARS AND THE DISTANT LIGHTS. I INITIALLY CLBED TO 11000 FT TO ENSURE ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLRNC AND SELECTED A HEADING, WHICH WOULD STEER ME WELL CLR OF TERRAIN. DURING THE CLBOUT, I FOUND MYSELF INADVERTENTLY POSITIONED BTWN TWO CLOUD LAYERS AND GRADUALLY LOSING VISUAL REF. I BRIEFLY SAW THE STARS ABOVE ME AND THOUGHT I COULD GET ON TOP BY CLBING A LITTLE HIGHER. IT WAS AT THIS TIME I REALIZED I HAD LOST VISUAL REF AND ELECTED TO TRANSITION TO THE INSTS. I CONTACTED ARTCC AND APPRAISED THEM OF MY SIT. CTR ISSUED ME A SQUAWK CODE AND SUGGESTED I CLB TO 12500 FT. SHORTLY AFTER MY INITIAL CONTACT WITH ARTCC, I WAS ABLE TO CLRLY ESTABLISH VISUAL REF WITH THE TERRAIN AND PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO ZZZ.

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.