Small transport business jet and helicopter have near midair collision at low altitude over water.

Attributes
ACN	140056
Time
Date	199003
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lev
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 100 msl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	140056
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying an small aircraft which belongs to the govt on a law enforcement mission consisting of a low level search of the gulf short waters in the vicinity of grand isle and port fouchon, la, in an attempt to locate reported bales in the water. During this flight, I was flying approximately 1 1/2 mi south of the shoreline on an easterly heading when I spotted a helicopter traveling northbound at approximately 500' at a distance of about 1000'. I initiated a slight right bank to maintain sight of helicopter and to pass ahead and below of helicopter. The helicopter made no evasive action and was apparently not aware of my presence. I passed below and ahead of helicopter. The helicopter was en route to land at grand isle base or fouchon phi base (which are not listed on VFR charts). During the pass I was monitoring fouchon phi unicom. Prevention methods would be better lookout doctrine and combining fouchon and grand isle phi unicom frequencys. Also creating an approach corridor to both bases.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT BUSINESS JET AND HELICOPTER HAVE NMAC AT LOW ALT OVER WATER.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AN SMA WHICH BELONGS TO THE GOVT ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT MISSION CONSISTING OF A LOW LEVEL SEARCH OF THE GULF SHORT WATERS IN THE VICINITY OF GRAND ISLE AND PORT FOUCHON, LA, IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE RPTED BALES IN THE WATER. DURING THIS FLT, I WAS FLYING APPROX 1 1/2 MI S OF THE SHORELINE ON AN EASTERLY HDG WHEN I SPOTTED A HELI TRAVELING NBOUND AT APPROX 500' AT A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1000'. I INITIATED A SLIGHT RIGHT BANK TO MAINTAIN SIGHT OF HELI AND TO PASS AHEAD AND BELOW OF HELI. THE HELI MADE NO EVASIVE ACTION AND WAS APPARENTLY NOT AWARE OF MY PRESENCE. I PASSED BELOW AND AHEAD OF HELI. THE HELI WAS ENRTE TO LAND AT GRAND ISLE BASE OR FOUCHON PHI BASE (WHICH ARE NOT LISTED ON VFR CHARTS). DURING THE PASS I WAS MONITORING FOUCHON PHI UNICOM. PREVENTION METHODS WOULD BE BETTER LOOKOUT DOCTRINE AND COMBINING FOUCHON AND GRAND ISLE PHI UNICOM FREQS. ALSO CREATING AN APCH CORRIDOR TO BOTH BASES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.