EC145
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 6000; Flight Crew Type 135
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Weather
On Final Approach I was hand flying the aircraft in IMC and I descended below the approach minimum of 1;020 feet MSL. I failed to scan properly and I was alerted by Approach Control that I had triggered a low altitude warning. I corrected the altitude and completed the approach without incident. The lesson I learned was to NEVER lose focus on the instrument scan; especially during an approach.
A Helicopter pilot on an instrument approach descended below approach minimum until alerted by Approach Control. The situation was corrected and a safe landing was made.