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AS320 (aerospatiale) pilot while flying VFR encounters IMC and climbs above the WX without a clearance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 689012 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200602 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : sat.vortac |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | agl single value : 150 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | other |
| Make Model Name | AS 350 Astar/Ecureuil |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 212 flight time total : 3500 flight time type : 710 |
| ASRS Report | 689012 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
The purpose for the flight was to repos the helicopter -- 100 hour inspection. I used duats to check WX along the route and the information indicated that the WX would be 500 ft overcast and 3-6 mi visibility. I departed (SVFR). The WX was as depicted by duats. I was following a highway to avoid towers and antennas. The ceiling came down until I was 150 ft AGL and less than 60 KIAS. I went inadvertently IMC and lost all visual reference to the ground. I climbed through the IMC layer to VMC on top at 7500 ft MSL. It was apparent that a VMC descent would not be available. I contacted ZHU and requested IFR handling. I received an instrument clearance; got vectors to ILS runway 35R; and conducted the ILS runway 35R to the runway and made a safe landing. My concern is because I entered IMC without a flight plan. I took this action because I lost visual reference to the ground. I climbed through IMC and confessed my situation to the ZHU controller.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AS320 (AEROSPATIALE) PLT WHILE FLYING VFR ENCOUNTERS IMC AND CLBS ABOVE THE WX WITHOUT A CLRNC.
Narrative: THE PURPOSE FOR THE FLT WAS TO REPOS THE HELI -- 100 HR INSPECTION. I USED DUATS TO CHK WX ALONG THE RTE AND THE INFO INDICATED THAT THE WX WOULD BE 500 FT OVCST AND 3-6 MI VISIBILITY. I DEPARTED (SVFR). THE WX WAS AS DEPICTED BY DUATS. I WAS FOLLOWING A HWY TO AVOID TOWERS AND ANTENNAS. THE CEILING CAME DOWN UNTIL I WAS 150 FT AGL AND LESS THAN 60 KIAS. I WENT INADVERTENTLY IMC AND LOST ALL VISUAL REF TO THE GND. I CLBED THROUGH THE IMC LAYER TO VMC ON TOP AT 7500 FT MSL. IT WAS APPARENT THAT A VMC DSCNT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE. I CONTACTED ZHU AND REQUESTED IFR HANDLING. I RECEIVED AN INST CLRNC; GOT VECTORS TO ILS RWY 35R; AND CONDUCTED THE ILS RWY 35R TO THE RWY AND MADE A SAFE LNDG. MY CONCERN IS BECAUSE I ENTERED IMC WITHOUT A FLT PLAN. I TOOK THIS ACTION BECAUSE I LOST VISUAL REF TO THE GND. I CLBED THROUGH IMC AND CONFESSED MY SITUATION TO THE ZHU CTLR.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.