<< >> NASA ASRS Report 577474, March 2003

Inadvertent IMC in VFR flight by a B-06 EMS helicopter when encountering forestry generated smoke from a controled burn near ZZZ, us.

Attributes
ACN	577474
Time
Date	200303
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : zzz.vortac
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	Jet Ranger/Kiowa/206
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 19555 flight time type : 1620
ASRS Report	577474
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter other non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure Environmental Factor Aircraft
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

The flight was a VFR flight en route to ZZZ for refuel for an EMS hospital xfer from ZZZ1. After taking off from ZZZ2, we were diverted by our dispatch to ZZZ. Our aircraft only has dual GPS and rated for VFR flight only. WX reported unlimited ceilings and visibility. En route, we encountered smoke from a controled burn by the forestry service. The smoke was moving horizontal and visibility was still acceptable for VFR conditions. As the visibility decreased, I felt I could climb over the smoke seeing blue skies above. When I realized that I was not going to get over the top, I realized that visibility was decreasing rapidly. Instead of trying to turn around, I leveled off and maintained 4000 ft MSL and remained on course. I then called approach on #2 VHF frequency and declared 'inadvertent IMC.' they told me to remain VMC and check ATIS. After I told them I lost VMC, they then gave a squawk code and altitude and continue direct course to ZZZ. After approximately 5-10 mi, I regained VMC, canceled IFR, and landed at ZZZ with no further encounter with smoke.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INADVERTENT IMC IN VFR FLT BY A B-06 EMS HELI WHEN ENCOUNTERING FORESTRY GENERATED SMOKE FROM A CTLED BURN NEAR ZZZ, US.

Narrative: THE FLT WAS A VFR FLT ENRTE TO ZZZ FOR REFUEL FOR AN EMS HOSPITAL XFER FROM ZZZ1. AFTER TAKING OFF FROM ZZZ2, WE WERE DIVERTED BY OUR DISPATCH TO ZZZ. OUR ACFT ONLY HAS DUAL GPS AND RATED FOR VFR FLT ONLY. WX RPTED UNLIMITED CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY. ENRTE, WE ENCOUNTERED SMOKE FROM A CTLED BURN BY THE FORESTRY SVC. THE SMOKE WAS MOVING HORIZ AND VISIBILITY WAS STILL ACCEPTABLE FOR VFR CONDITIONS. AS THE VISIBILITY DECREASED, I FELT I COULD CLB OVER THE SMOKE SEEING BLUE SKIES ABOVE. WHEN I REALIZED THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO GET OVER THE TOP, I REALIZED THAT VISIBILITY WAS DECREASING RAPIDLY. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TURN AROUND, I LEVELED OFF AND MAINTAINED 4000 FT MSL AND REMAINED ON COURSE. I THEN CALLED APCH ON #2 VHF FREQ AND DECLARED 'INADVERTENT IMC.' THEY TOLD ME TO REMAIN VMC AND CHK ATIS. AFTER I TOLD THEM I LOST VMC, THEY THEN GAVE A SQUAWK CODE AND ALT AND CONTINUE DIRECT COURSE TO ZZZ. AFTER APPROX 5-10 MI, I REGAINED VMC, CANCELED IFR, AND LANDED AT ZZZ WITH NO FURTHER ENCOUNTER WITH SMOKE.

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.