Helicopter pilot penetrates TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	114901
Time
Date	198906
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 1900 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	114901
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The problem: entering the atlanta TCA in a helicopter without authorization. I was filling in as a pilot for a radio traffic reporter. Another traffic helicopter was flying the same route 2 mi ahead of me. We were both talking on 123.05, and we both got a report of an automobile accident in an area I knew to be outside of the TCA. When we got to the site, the accident was not there, it was further up the road. I talked to the pilot of the other helicopter, and we came to the conclusion that the accident was in an area that the tower did not claim. I followed the other helicopter into the TCA at 200' and we left in under 2 mins. After the flight I looked the area up on a TCA chart, and I was almost 2 mi into the northeast section of the TCA. (Surface to 12,500 section.) 6 months earlier I flew 1.5 mi into the TCA. I called atlanta tower and they told me I was not in the TCA and I didn't need to call them. I was following I-675. In june I flew the same route on I-675 and called the tower, this time they claimed the area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELICOPTER PLT PENETRATES TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: THE PROBLEM: ENTERING THE ATLANTA TCA IN A HELI WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION. I WAS FILLING IN AS A PLT FOR A RADIO TFC REPORTER. ANOTHER TFC HELI WAS FLYING THE SAME ROUTE 2 MI AHEAD OF ME. WE WERE BOTH TALKING ON 123.05, AND WE BOTH GOT A REPORT OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN AN AREA I KNEW TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE TCA. WHEN WE GOT TO THE SITE, THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT THERE, IT WAS FURTHER UP THE ROAD. I TALKED TO THE PLT OF THE OTHER HELI, AND WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS IN AN AREA THAT THE TWR DID NOT CLAIM. I FOLLOWED THE OTHER HELI INTO THE TCA AT 200' AND WE LEFT IN UNDER 2 MINS. AFTER THE FLT I LOOKED THE AREA UP ON A TCA CHART, AND I WAS ALMOST 2 MI INTO THE NE SECTION OF THE TCA. (SURFACE TO 12,500 SECTION.) 6 MONTHS EARLIER I FLEW 1.5 MI INTO THE TCA. I CALLED ATLANTA TWR AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS NOT IN THE TCA AND I DIDN'T NEED TO CALL THEM. I WAS FOLLOWING I-675. IN JUNE I FLEW THE SAME ROUTE ON I-675 AND CALLED THE TWR, THIS TIME THEY CLAIMED THE AREA.

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.