Helicopter air taxi pilot enters TCA without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	248036
Time
Date	199308
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dca tower : dca tracon : pvd
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	240036
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I attempted to contact dca tower. After making several unsuccessful attempts, I picked the aircraft up to a higher hover and initiated a request to dca tower for a helicopter route 1 to exit cabin john. Dca tower responded 'roger, aircraft number.' in the process of transitioning to a high hover, I created a dust storm which engulfed the ground personnel providing security. I elected to initiate a departure and transition to helicopter route 1. Once again dca tower acknowledged my departure with a 'roger.' dca tower never specifically cleared me into the TCA or cleared me for a helicopter route 1 transition. Although I did not cause a traffic conflict or receive any admonishment from tower, I feel that I should have initiated a call requesting clarification prior to continuing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI AIR TAXI PLT ENTERS TCA WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT DCA TWR. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS, I PICKED THE ACFT UP TO A HIGHER HOVER AND INITIATED A REQUEST TO DCA TWR FOR A HELI RTE 1 TO EXIT CABIN JOHN. DCA TWR RESPONDED 'ROGER, ACFT NUMBER.' IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING TO A HIGH HOVER, I CREATED A DUST STORM WHICH ENGULFED THE GND PERSONNEL PROVIDING SECURITY. I ELECTED TO INITIATE A DEP AND TRANSITION TO HELI RTE 1. ONCE AGAIN DCA TWR ACKNOWLEDGED MY DEP WITH A 'ROGER.' DCA TWR NEVER SPECIFICALLY CLRED ME INTO THE TCA OR CLRED ME FOR A HELI RTE 1 TRANSITION. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT CAUSE A TFC CONFLICT OR RECEIVE ANY ADMONISHMENT FROM TWR, I FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE INITIATED A CALL REQUESTING CLARIFICATION PRIOR TO CONTINUING.

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.