Narrative:

I was cleared to land on runway 29R and was approaching the north traffic pattern for that runway on a standard 45 degree entry at 1;200 ft descending to pattern altitude (1;100 ft). Tower advised of northbound helicopter traffic 'restricted below 800 ft.' just as I was beginning my left turn to downwind; I glimpsed the helicopter for just a second as it passed close beneath my left wing. There was no time for evasion. Had I initiated my turn one second earlier; there likely would have been a collision.I reported the incident on ground control. The controller told me that the city's noise abatement personnel; responding t0 a few homeowners who are annoyed by helicopters flying over their homes; have been using letters and 'tickets' to intimidate helicopter pilots into flying at higher altitudes. The tower simply responds to the helicopter pilots' requests. He also agreed that it may take one or more fatal mid-air collisions to halt this intimidation.I am aware of a number of other similar conflicts with helicopter traffic over the past year that required evasive action on the part of at least one of the pilots.the elimination of altitude separation around the airport is very dangerous and should cease. Intimidation of the pilots by city personnel is a violation of far 91.11 and should cease.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot on initial approach to TOA Runway 29R had a near miss at 1;100 FT after a helicopter pilot deviated from his 800 FT altitude constraint because of intimidation by city personnel about neighborhood noise complaints.

Narrative: I was cleared to land on Runway 29R and was approaching the north traffic pattern for that runway on a standard 45 degree entry at 1;200 FT descending to pattern altitude (1;100 FT). Tower advised of northbound helicopter traffic 'restricted below 800 FT.' Just as I was beginning my left turn to downwind; I glimpsed the helicopter for just a second as it passed close beneath my left wing. There was no time for evasion. Had I initiated my turn one second earlier; there likely would have been a collision.I reported the incident on Ground Control. The Controller told me that the city's noise abatement personnel; responding t0 a few homeowners who are annoyed by helicopters flying over their homes; have been using letters and 'tickets' to intimidate helicopter pilots into flying at higher altitudes. The Tower simply responds to the helicopter pilots' requests. He also agreed that it may take one or more fatal mid-air collisions to halt this intimidation.I am aware of a number of other similar conflicts with helicopter traffic over the past year that required evasive action on the part of at least one of the pilots.The elimination of altitude separation around the airport is very dangerous and should cease. Intimidation of the pilots by city personnel is a violation of FAR 91.11 and should cease.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.