R44 helicopter pilot reported he was 'frightened' by the close; and apparently deliberate; pass of t...

Attributes
ACN	1277072
Time
Date	201503
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	35A.Airport
State Reference	SC
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Robinson R44
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Fighting Falcon F16
Flight Phase	Cruise
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 1355 Flight Crew Type 1255
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC
Miss Distance	Horizontal 500 Vertical 0

Narrative:

I had a very scary encounter with three F-16s in south carolina just south west of 35A while flying along in a R44. While flying at 2;500 feet and northeast bound I saw them pass me on my right side several miles away from me; at my altitude; and headed on a similar course as me at a high rate of speed. As I kept my eye on them I noticed that they had turned and started heading directly towards me. They were still probably a minute away from me so I continued to just watch as they rapidly approached me at my altitude and at my 3 o'clock. So I immediately entered a high rate descent but only to have them descend with me at my same rate. I descended from 2;500 feet to about 250 feet AGL only to have them descend to 250 feet AGL as well still on a direct collision path with me. At approximately 700 to 500 feet away from me they then made a very aggressive high speed turn in the opposite direction I was headed! I was very frightened from the incident. I was shaking for a few minutes afterwards.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: R44 helicopter pilot reported he was 'frightened' by the close; and apparently deliberate; pass of three F-16s.

Narrative: I had a very scary encounter with three F-16s in South Carolina just south west of 35A while flying along in a R44. While flying at 2;500 feet and northeast bound I saw them pass me on my right side several miles away from me; at my altitude; and headed on a similar course as me at a high rate of speed. As I kept my eye on them I noticed that they had turned and started heading directly towards me. They were still probably a minute away from me so I continued to just watch as they rapidly approached me at my altitude and at my 3 o'clock. So I immediately entered a high rate descent but only to have them descend with me at my same rate. I descended from 2;500 feet to about 250 feet AGL only to have them descend to 250 feet AGL as well still on a direct collision path with me. At approximately 700 to 500 feet away from me they then made a very aggressive high speed turn in the opposite direction I was headed! I was very frightened from the incident. I was shaking for a few minutes afterwards.

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.