Helicopter at hpn mistakenly accepts takeoff clearance meant for cpr jet with similar call sign.

Attributes
ACN	149137
Time
Date	199006
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hpn
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hpn artcc : zny
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : holding
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	other other : other pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	149137
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2000 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying helicopter xyz departing hpn. We had talked to ground and taxied to D for takeoff. The copilot called the tower for takeoff. There was a lot of air traffic this day. I heard an X (break in transmission) Z cleared for takeoff. I brought the aircraft to a hover as the copilot transmitted to tower, 'xyz cleared for takeoff from delta.' with no reply from tower, I started the takeoff. Just prior to crossing the runway I saw a cpr mdt jet on his takeoff roll. His # was xbz. Although this was not a real close call, it got both my and the cpr mdt pilot's attention. The takeoff clearance was for the cpr mdt jet xbz, as I learned from talking to the tower. Even repeating the takeoff instructions did not prevent this close call. In the future, not only will I repeat the calls, but also check the airfield for any other movement.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELICOPTER AT HPN MISTAKENLY ACCEPTS TKOF CLRNC MEANT FOR CPR JET WITH SIMILAR CALL SIGN.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING HELI XYZ DEPARTING HPN. WE HAD TALKED TO GND AND TAXIED TO D FOR TKOF. THE COPLT CALLED THE TWR FOR TKOF. THERE WAS A LOT OF AIR TFC THIS DAY. I HEARD AN X (BREAK IN XMISSION) Z CLRED FOR TKOF. I BROUGHT THE ACFT TO A HOVER AS THE COPLT XMITTED TO TWR, 'XYZ CLRED FOR TKOF FROM DELTA.' WITH NO REPLY FROM TWR, I STARTED THE TKOF. JUST PRIOR TO XING THE RWY I SAW A CPR MDT JET ON HIS TKOF ROLL. HIS # WAS XBZ. ALTHOUGH THIS WAS NOT A REAL CLOSE CALL, IT GOT BOTH MY AND THE CPR MDT PLT'S ATTN. THE TKOF CLRNC WAS FOR THE CPR MDT JET XBZ, AS I LEARNED FROM TALKING TO THE TWR. EVEN REPEATING THE TKOF INSTRUCTIONS DID NOT PREVENT THIS CLOSE CALL. IN THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY WILL I REPEAT THE CALLS, BUT ALSO CHK THE AIRFIELD FOR ANY OTHER MOVEMENT.

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.