Jet Ranger All Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Weather
When I arrived weather looked to be clearing no ceiling and 10 miles visibility. I checked the forecast it was almost 3 hrs old. I checked different locations for the trending weather. It looked good for a 10-15 min flight down south to the sending hospital. On the flight to the sending hospital the weather appeared to be moving to the north. On the return flight the weather became visible at about 5 miles south of town and was moving west to east. I checked the ATIS it was 400 feet scattered 1;600 feet overcast. I told the crew that we would have to land at the airport instead of the hospital. At that time I could still see the airport. Told the tower that I needed to land at the airport. The tower then stated that the weather was now 600 feet overcast and I was losing sight of the airport. The weather was moving quickly so I decided to get vectors to the approach instead of looking for VMC and landing. The tower asked if I wanted to coordinate with center I said yes. Then I started the check list for Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC) to get my wings level; heading; adjusting climb power and airspeed. Then the tower called and said to contact center. So I switched and called Center he immediately gave me a code; heading and altitude which I repeated and started the request. This is where I was 'distracted' I started setting the radios getting the approach plate out and I should have 'declared an emergency' at this point and I didn't. I was talking to the crew explaining what was going on told them that I might need them at some point and to be available. Center vectored me to the final approach fix and I did the approach. I broke out of the clouds at 600 feet AGL and 2 miles from the runway. I air taxied to parking where the ambulance was waiting for the patient. When the crew returned I did a post flight brief asked them if they had any concerns or questions. They said that I kept them informed on what was going on and had no complaints or questions.I think what happened was I was close to the airport and already talking to the tower he was trying to help. So he got Center all my information and when he passed me off to center I was busy starting my IIMC procedure wings level and establishing a climb. When I contacted center he immediately gave me the directions and I just complied; this is where I should have declared the emergency. We practice this procedure and I know what I should do I just feel I got distracted. I was flying the aircraft setting the frequencies getting out the approach plate and informing the crew. I feel this is where the workload may have been part of my distraction. The IIMC procedure worked very well; I fail to get back to the check list and declare that it was an emergency because we are not certified for IMC. I feel that when I got distracted I got off the check list and that caused my error. I will not let it happen again I will be more diligent with my check list.
A BHT-407 pilot reported regretting not declaring an emergency when weather deteriorated on his flight.