Departing helicopter does not comply with tower instructions.

Attributes
ACN	266603
Time
Date	199403
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : jfk
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise other descent : holding ground : holding
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 4250 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	266603
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On departure from the GA terminal at kjfk, we were instructed to hold short of runway 31R at the triple hangars, at or below 1000 ft. We complied. Jfk tower asked if we had the departing 'ATR' in sight which was rolling on runway 31R. We stated yes! Then we were given clearance to cross 31R at the triple hangars behind the ATR at or below 1000 ft, and jfk tower advised us that the ATR would be turning right to a 090 degree heading and climbing to 1400 ft MSL, and that we should maintain visual separation. The captain interpreted that as 'just maintain visual separation'. We crossed 31R east of the triple hangars and jfk tower asked us to turn back wbound to the triple hangars so as not to create a traffic conflict! The captain slowed down but did not fully comply with jfk tower's request and then he reiterated his clearance and that we did not comply with it! No traffic conflict problem arose with the 'ATR'!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEPARTING HELI DOES NOT COMPLY WITH TWR INSTRUCTIONS.

Narrative: ON DEP FROM THE GA TERMINAL AT KJFK, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 31R AT THE TRIPLE HANGARS, AT OR BELOW 1000 FT. WE COMPLIED. JFK TWR ASKED IF WE HAD THE DEPARTING 'ATR' IN SIGHT WHICH WAS ROLLING ON RWY 31R. WE STATED YES! THEN WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO CROSS 31R AT THE TRIPLE HANGARS BEHIND THE ATR AT OR BELOW 1000 FT, AND JFK TWR ADVISED US THAT THE ATR WOULD BE TURNING R TO A 090 DEG HDG AND CLBING TO 1400 FT MSL, AND THAT WE SHOULD MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION. THE CAPT INTERPRETED THAT AS 'JUST MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION'. WE CROSSED 31R E OF THE TRIPLE HANGARS AND JFK TWR ASKED US TO TURN BACK WBOUND TO THE TRIPLE HANGARS SO AS NOT TO CREATE A TFC CONFLICT! THE CAPT SLOWED DOWN BUT DID NOT FULLY COMPLY WITH JFK TWR'S REQUEST AND THEN HE REITERATED HIS CLRNC AND THAT WE DID NOT COMPLY WITH IT! NO TFC CONFLICT PROB AROSE WITH THE 'ATR'!

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.