Jet Ranger III
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 6050; Flight Crew Type 30
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General None Reported / Taken
Weather; Human Factors
In the early morning of April 2015 (approximately XX45); when flying (without a patient) from [a hospital] in Mobile AL; to Hattiesburg MS (HBG); I encountered some unforecasted weather. One minute it was clear skies and then a few minutes later clouds began appearing between 1;100 feet-1;500 feet. This inconsistent cloud layer formed multiple times enroute.  Initially I tried to stay below the clouds; maintaining at least 100 feet-200 feet above the highest obstacle in the general area. As I got closer to HBG; the clouds became thicker and in some areas (probably over water landmarks) the clouds dropped lower. I was not comfortable flying at altitudes lower than the highest obstacles just to maintain VFR cloud clearances so I decided to climb above the clouds. (During the earlier flight to Mobile; skies were clear above the thin layer of clouds. I went IMC for a few seconds as I climbed above the clouds to 2;500 feet and was in clear skies. Occasionally I could see the ground but felt more comfortable and safe flying VFR above the clouds being only 10 minutes from my final destination; and being in a relatively remote location with no other airports nearby. I contacted Houston center for an IFR pickup and asked for the GPS 13 approach into HBG. Center issued me a squawk and asked If I would like to continue VFR until he could give me vectors or turn north to circumvent the MOA. I elected to continue VFR above the clouds and remained so for approximately 3 minutes.  Houston Center then contacted me issuing me radar vectors to Final (HILGA). As I was being vectored to final; the clouds began to break up over Hattiesburg as I could make out landmarks that were lit.  I also could see weather was clear to the ground approximately 3 miles to the North of downtown Hattiesburg. I may have been able to proceed north and then come in below the clouds but I felt it would be safer staying on the approach.  On final approach; I went into the clouds around 1;100 feet for about 10 seconds before I broke out and lined up with the runway around 900 feet. Landing was uneventful. In hindsight; being a VFR aircraft and not currently IFR qualified; I should have declared an Emergency to Houston Center. Due to my IFR background and having done numerous approaches in the last few months during training; plus having a fully functioning aircraft and clear skies above the thin layer; I was not under duress or felt in an emergency situation.  These factors led to me continuing on to my final destination vice landing in a remote location; such as a field; without declaring an emergency.  However; I overlooked the fact that flying IFR in a VFR aircraft; without a current IFR certification does in fact warrant an Emergency Declaration.  I did not get an updated weather observation prior to returning back to base from the hospital because the forecast weather for HBG was not supposed to go IMC until after XA00 (2 hours after my anticipated landing). In addition; previous forecasts earlier in the week were similar but never materialized until after forecasted times and sometimes not at all.
Jet Ranger III helicopter pilot reported encountering unforecast weather enroute and despite not being IFR qualified chose to continue to destination.