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.