Unauthorized penetration of airspace and landing when potential low fuel status is realized by rotar...

Attributes
ACN	191397
Time
Date	199110
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ash
State Reference	NH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2511
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ash
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time total : 138
ASRS Report	191397
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While en route from keene, nh, to hanscom field, bedford, ma, I realized I was in a low fuel condition and that I was off course. Directly under me was an airport. I did not know its tower or CTAF frequency. After being certain I was not interfering with traffic, I landed. After shutting down the aircraft I telephoned the tower and explained what had happened and asked if he needed further information. He said he did not. Upon refueling the gas required was about 15 gallons. I did not believe I had enough gas to reach hanscom. I was on a training flight, cross country. To prevent this in the future, I will have a list of airport frequencys available. My map was folded so I could not read the frequency. Also, I was quite busy being certain I was clear of traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTHORIZED PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE AND LNDG WHEN POTENTIAL LOW FUEL STATUS IS REALIZED BY ROTARY WINGED PLT.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM KEENE, NH, TO HANSCOM FIELD, BEDFORD, MA, I REALIZED I WAS IN A LOW FUEL CONDITION AND THAT I WAS OFF COURSE. DIRECTLY UNDER ME WAS AN ARPT. I DID NOT KNOW ITS TWR OR CTAF FREQ. AFTER BEING CERTAIN I WAS NOT INTERFERING WITH TFC, I LANDED. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE ACFT I TELEPHONED THE TWR AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND ASKED IF HE NEEDED FURTHER INFO. HE SAID HE DID NOT. UPON REFUELING THE GAS REQUIRED WAS ABOUT 15 GALLONS. I DID NOT BELIEVE I HAD ENOUGH GAS TO REACH HANSCOM. I WAS ON A TRAINING FLT, XCOUNTRY. TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE, I WILL HAVE A LIST OF ARPT FREQS AVAILABLE. MY MAP WAS FOLDED SO I COULD NOT READ THE FREQ. ALSO, I WAS QUITE BUSY BEING CERTAIN I WAS CLR OF TFC.

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.

Unauthorized penetration of airspace and landing when potential low fuel status is realized by rotary winged pilot.