Reporter in small aircraft had ground conflict with helicopter taking off.

Attributes
ACN	123344
Time
Date	198909
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tus
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	ground : holding ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	123344
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : ground
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical conflict : nmac non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 30 vertical : 50
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

I received taxi clearance to runway 21 at bb with instructions to contact tower on 119.0, instead of the usual 118.3. Upon contacting the tower, I was given 'position and hold'. There was a helicopter at the threshold of the runway which had been there quite awhile lifting off, hovering and landing in that area. (I had noticed the helicopter in that area when I drove into the airport.) as I was taxiing onto the runway to position, the helicopter took off down the runway toward me. I just got a glimpse of his movement which was enough to cause me to make an abrupt stop to avoid collision and the downdraft. After the helicopter had already cleared me by 75-100' down the runway, the tower advised me to hold my position for departing traffic. The helicopter was obviously communicating on 118.3, since I heard no communications with him on 119.0.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER IN SMA HAD GND CONFLICT WITH HELICOPTER TAKING OFF.

Narrative: I RECEIVED TAXI CLRNC TO RWY 21 AT BB WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTACT TWR ON 119.0, INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 118.3. UPON CONTACTING THE TWR, I WAS GIVEN 'POSITION AND HOLD'. THERE WAS A HELI AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE RWY WHICH HAD BEEN THERE QUITE AWHILE LIFTING OFF, HOVERING AND LNDG IN THAT AREA. (I HAD NOTICED THE HELI IN THAT AREA WHEN I DROVE INTO THE ARPT.) AS I WAS TAXIING ONTO THE RWY TO POSITION, THE HELI TOOK OFF DOWN THE RWY TOWARD ME. I JUST GOT A GLIMPSE OF HIS MOVEMENT WHICH WAS ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO MAKE AN ABRUPT STOP TO AVOID COLLISION AND THE DOWNDRAFT. AFTER THE HELI HAD ALREADY CLRED ME BY 75-100' DOWN THE RWY, THE TWR ADVISED ME TO HOLD MY POSITION FOR DEPARTING TFC. THE HELI WAS OBVIOUSLY COMMUNICATING ON 118.3, SINCE I HEARD NO COMS WITH HIM ON 119.0.

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.