Near midair collision between a C172 and a government helicopter near a VOR and airport.

Attributes
ACN	285135
Time
Date	199410
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hzl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	285135
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 700 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At the location described above I noticed a state police jet ranger approximately 1600 ft ahead and 50 ft below on a collision course. We both took evasive action by turning right. The helicopter then slowed to a hover for approximately 1 min, then departed towards hazelton airport. The reason I did not notice the chopper sooner, was because I was slightly higher than it and it was silhouetted against a ridge. It would have been easier to see if there had been a strobe light operating on the aircraft. The distance by which we missed each other is difficult to estimate but I am sure of my altitude. (The pressure was 30.07.)

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC BTWN A C172 AND A GOV HELI NEAR A VOR AND ARPT.

Narrative: AT THE LOCATION DESCRIBED ABOVE I NOTICED A STATE POLICE JET RANGER APPROX 1600 FT AHEAD AND 50 FT BELOW ON A COLLISION COURSE. WE BOTH TOOK EVASIVE ACTION BY TURNING R. THE HELI THEN SLOWED TO A HOVER FOR APPROX 1 MIN, THEN DEPARTED TOWARDS HAZELTON ARPT. THE REASON I DID NOT NOTICE THE CHOPPER SOONER, WAS BECAUSE I WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN IT AND IT WAS SILHOUETTED AGAINST A RIDGE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A STROBE LIGHT OPERATING ON THE ACFT. THE DISTANCE BY WHICH WE MISSED EACH OTHER IS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE BUT I AM SURE OF MY ALT. (THE PRESSURE WAS 30.07.)

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.