Flight crew of helicopter intruded ewr TCA before being cleared.

Attributes
ACN	107617
Time
Date	198903
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 900 msl bound upper : 900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 175
ASRS Report	107617
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

We took off from a route heliport which lies under the new york TCA. We climbed to 900' and contacted ewr approach controller. The controller was quite busy, but we did receive a clearance to cross ewr at 1400'. At that time another controller came on the frequency and told us we were 2 mi inside the TCA. We were navigating with the FMS. It appeared to us we were still outside the TCA. Contributing factors were the busy frequency, a new controller and our relying too heavily on the navigation system. With all the traffic in and around the TCA (fixed wing and rotary) and the speed with which these aircraft fly, the frequencys can become very congested. We feel it is very dangerous to be circling around at 900' waiting for our turn. There should be special corridors to operate helicopters back and forth from the city and just use 123.05 and not involving ATC. On some of our flts, which are 20 mins duration, it is possible to be switching frequencys 5-10 times. This takes away from looking for traffic and navigating.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF HELICOPTER INTRUDED EWR TCA BEFORE BEING CLEARED.

Narrative: WE TOOK OFF FROM A ROUTE HELIPORT WHICH LIES UNDER THE NEW YORK TCA. WE CLBED TO 900' AND CONTACTED EWR APCH CTLR. THE CTLR WAS QUITE BUSY, BUT WE DID RECEIVE A CLRNC TO CROSS EWR AT 1400'. AT THAT TIME ANOTHER CTLR CAME ON THE FREQ AND TOLD US WE WERE 2 MI INSIDE THE TCA. WE WERE NAVIGATING WITH THE FMS. IT APPEARED TO US WE WERE STILL OUTSIDE THE TCA. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE BUSY FREQ, A NEW CTLR AND OUR RELYING TOO HEAVILY ON THE NAV SYS. WITH ALL THE TFC IN AND AROUND THE TCA (FIXED WING AND ROTARY) AND THE SPD WITH WHICH THESE ACFT FLY, THE FREQS CAN BECOME VERY CONGESTED. WE FEEL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE CIRCLING AROUND AT 900' WAITING FOR OUR TURN. THERE SHOULD BE SPECIAL CORRIDORS TO OPERATE HELIS BACK AND FORTH FROM THE CITY AND JUST USE 123.05 AND NOT INVOLVING ATC. ON SOME OF OUR FLTS, WHICH ARE 20 MINS DURATION, IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE SWITCHING FREQS 5-10 TIMES. THIS TAKES AWAY FROM LOOKING FOR TFC AND NAVIGATING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.