Narrative:

Ckb is in the expansion mode, and as a result, proper parking space for large aircraft is at a premium. The local FBO has been parking corp and large turbo jet aircraft on a portion of the main ramp, marked by chevrons, in a manner which allows the jet exhaust to be directed at the 2 helipads, approximately 150' away. On 4/sun/91 afternoon, I was landing a small helicopter on the helipad farthest from a parked cpr Y jet aircraft (see attached drawing). The jet had started both engines, but since it was in a non-movement area, the jet had not established contact with the local controller, nor had the jet energized any external lights, rotating beacons, strobes, etc. Helicopter X was in a hover over the helipad when the jet went to break-away thrust. The helicopter was tossed about violently, but fortunately I was able to maintain control and landed west/O incident. However, I am training a student in this helicopter and the student was scheduled to solo the craft later that day. Had this student been solo at the controls when the jet went to break-away thrust, I fear the outcome would not have been west/O incident. I recommend no jet or heavy aircraft be parked on the main ramp in such a manner as to direct exhaust or propeller-wash over the 2 helipads. Callback conversation with FAA tower supervisor revealed the following: FAA tower supervisor stated there are 2 helipads on the airport. 1 helipad closest to the hangar has been closed and designated a non control area. The supervisor stated the second helipad is directly across from the FBO parking area and aircraft are free to start at their discretion. The tower has not received any complaints about jet blast.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELICOPTER X LOSS OF CTL CAUSED BY JET BLAST FROM CPR Y. ARPT HELIPAD DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM LARGE ACFT PARKING AREA.

Narrative: CKB IS IN THE EXPANSION MODE, AND AS A RESULT, PROPER PARKING SPACE FOR LARGE ACFT IS AT A PREMIUM. THE LCL FBO HAS BEEN PARKING CORP AND LARGE TURBO JET ACFT ON A PORTION OF THE MAIN RAMP, MARKED BY CHEVRONS, IN A MANNER WHICH ALLOWS THE JET EXHAUST TO BE DIRECTED AT THE 2 HELIPADS, APPROX 150' AWAY. ON 4/SUN/91 AFTERNOON, I WAS LANDING A SMALL HELI ON THE HELIPAD FARTHEST FROM A PARKED CPR Y JET ACFT (SEE ATTACHED DRAWING). THE JET HAD STARTED BOTH ENGS, BUT SINCE IT WAS IN A NON-MOVEMENT AREA, THE JET HAD NOT ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH THE LCL CTLR, NOR HAD THE JET ENERGIZED ANY EXTERNAL LIGHTS, ROTATING BEACONS, STROBES, ETC. HELI X WAS IN A HOVER OVER THE HELIPAD WHEN THE JET WENT TO BREAK-AWAY THRUST. THE HELI WAS TOSSED ABOUT VIOLENTLY, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CTL AND LANDED W/O INCIDENT. HOWEVER, I AM TRNING A STUDENT IN THIS HELI AND THE STUDENT WAS SCHEDULED TO SOLO THE CRAFT LATER THAT DAY. HAD THIS STUDENT BEEN SOLO AT THE CTLS WHEN THE JET WENT TO BREAK-AWAY THRUST, I FEAR THE OUTCOME WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN W/O INCIDENT. I RECOMMEND NO JET OR HVY ACFT BE PARKED ON THE MAIN RAMP IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO DIRECT EXHAUST OR PROP-WASH OVER THE 2 HELIPADS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH FAA TWR SUPVR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: FAA TWR SUPVR STATED THERE ARE 2 HELIPADS ON THE ARPT. 1 HELIPAD CLOSEST TO THE HANGAR HAS BEEN CLOSED AND DESIGNATED A NON CTL AREA. THE SUPVR STATED THE SECOND HELIPAD IS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE FBO PARKING AREA AND ACFT ARE FREE TO START AT THEIR DISCRETION. THE TWR HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT JET BLAST.

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.