Caravan 208B
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Total 5700; Flight Crew Type 3800
Situational Awareness; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC
Human Factors; Aircraft; MEL; Weather
I checked the weather before departure and it was 600 overcast and 10 miles at OGG with a few rain showers in between. The general weather pattern for the morning was improving east to west and was already improving at OGG. I departed VFR for the 25 minute flight to OGG. When I was 2/3 of the way across the channel the visibility dropped a little so I headed towards the better visibility. I was following the west shoreline southbound between 1;000-2;000 FT to stay VFR. It got to the point I could not stay VFR so I turned around and tried to go around the North shore. I am checked out to be single pilot IFR w/autopilot in leu of SIC however; the autopilot was MEL'd INOP. I flew northbound and listened to the OGG ATIS. It reported 2.5 mile visibility with a 2;900 foot ceiling. I called Approach around Nakalele and told them I would hold a while to see if the field went back to VFR. I was holding for a few turns and the visibility was getting worse where I was and where I came from had been closed in with IMC weather; too. I picked up an IFR clearance and landed safely in OGG. I believed this was the safest option since the weather had deteriorated around me; and I could not turn back to MKK or I would be in IMC as well.The cause of the problem was weather moving in and an MEL'd autopilot. The solution would have been to have an SIC on board; or a working autopilot.
A C-208 instrument rated pilot got trapped by unexpected weather and an autopilot deferred inoperative enroute to OGG. In technical violation of company policy which required either an SIC or an autopilot; he obtained an IFR clearance to complete the flight.