Eurocopter AS 350/355/EC130 - Astar/Twinstar/Ecureuil
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 84; Flight Crew Total 2582; Flight Crew Type 886
Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted
Human Factors; Weather
While enroute the PIC and myself had checked the weather before leaving finding favorable conditions. As the flight progressed the weather started to deteriorate. The airport and real time DUATS was reporting marginal VFR conditions and while attempting to find the lowest terrain towards [our destination] we encountered decreasing visibility and simultaneous windshield snow buildup. As a precaution the PIC decided to make an unplanned landing in the first available clearing where a safe; normal landing could be made. Once the weather cleared and the windshield was cleared and the aircraft was inspected for icing; the flight was continued as planned. I believe a possible preventative action could be for the placement of a weather station elsewhere in the valley seeing as the airport is in one of the most unique locations of all airports in existence and as such may not provide relevant information to helicopters flying in less than perfect VFR conditions.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
AS350 pilots reported landing in an open field when a VFR flight encountered IMC. After the snow shower had passed; the flight continued to their destination.