<< >> NASA ASRS Report 596605, October 2003

Pilot of BK117 helicopter operating with a flight plan encountered IMC and declared emergency with agc ATCT and was provided a flight assist and clearance from pit approach control. Upon returning to VMC, canceled emergency and continued to destination.

Attributes
ACN	596605
Time
Date	200310
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : agc.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	MBB-BK 117A-1
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	596605
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

While flying a mission in VMC, WX deteriorated faster than previously forecast. Maintaining VFR in rain showers became increasingly difficult. While turning 180 degrees to return to better visibility, I was overtaken by a heavy rain shower and lost ground reference. I executed IMC procedures, stabilized the aircraft and called agc tower to declare an emergency. They handed me off to pit approach where I was assigned a squawk and vectored for the ILS runway 28 at agc. When reaching VFR, I canceled the emergency. I continued the approach until on extended final. WX was approximately 6-7 mi visibility and 2500 ft ceilings. I canceled the approach and proceeded to my initial destination.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF BK117 HELI OPERATING WITH A FLT PLAN ENCOUNTERED IMC AND DECLARED EMER WITH AGC ATCT AND WAS PROVIDED A FLT ASSIST AND CLRNC FROM PIT APCH CTL. UPON RETURNING TO VMC, CANCELED EMER AND CONTINUED TO DEST.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING A MISSION IN VMC, WX DETERIORATED FASTER THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. MAINTAINING VFR IN RAIN SHOWERS BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT. WHILE TURNING 180 DEGS TO RETURN TO BETTER VISIBILITY, I WAS OVERTAKEN BY A HVY RAIN SHOWER AND LOST GND REF. I EXECUTED IMC PROCS, STABILIZED THE ACFT AND CALLED AGC TWR TO DECLARE AN EMER. THEY HANDED ME OFF TO PIT APCH WHERE I WAS ASSIGNED A SQUAWK AND VECTORED FOR THE ILS RWY 28 AT AGC. WHEN REACHING VFR, I CANCELED THE EMER. I CONTINUED THE APCH UNTIL ON EXTENDED FINAL. WX WAS APPROX 6-7 MI VISIBILITY AND 2500 FT CEILINGS. I CANCELED THE APCH AND PROCEEDED TO MY INITIAL DEST.

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.