Local controller cleared an aircraft for takeoff with a NORDO (no radio) helicopter crossing the dep...

Attributes
ACN	1321983
Time
Date	201601
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	MAF.Tower
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Developmental
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict

Narrative:

I was working the local control position. I was made aware of a NORDO helicopter that was 4 miles west of the airport proceeding northeast bound. An air carrier called ready for departure. I already had the helicopter in sight and based on past experiences with aircraft performance I thought the departure would depart and climb at a more expedited rate. Once I realized that the helicopter was going to be a factor and it was too late to cancel the takeoff clearance; I quickly issued traffic. At that point; the departure notified me that he was responding to an RA. The helicopter remained NORDO for the whole event despite my efforts to contact him.in my opinion this was a onetime event of human error that could have been prevented if I had waited until the NORDO aircraft left my airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Local Controller cleared an aircraft for takeoff with a NORDO (No Radio) helicopter crossing the departure path. The departure did not climb as the Controller expected. The aircraft received and responded to a TCAS RA.

Narrative: I was working the Local Control position. I was made aware of a NORDO helicopter that was 4 miles west of the airport proceeding northeast bound. An air carrier called ready for departure. I already had the helicopter in sight and based on past experiences with aircraft performance I thought the departure would depart and climb at a more expedited rate. Once I realized that the helicopter was going to be a factor and it was too late to cancel the takeoff clearance; I quickly issued traffic. At that point; the departure notified me that he was responding to an RA. The helicopter remained NORDO for the whole event despite my efforts to contact him.In my opinion this was a onetime event of human error that could have been prevented if I had waited until the NORDO aircraft left my airspace.

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.

Local controller cleared an aircraft for takeoff with a NORDO (no radio) helicopter crossing the departure path. The departure did not climb as the controller expected. The aircraft received and responded to a TCAS RA.