Narrative:

On a beautiful fall evening (dusk) I decided to brush up on my helicopter technique and regain night currency in bell 206 jetranger. Launched from ind to eagle creek just 4 mi north for some VFR pattern work. Several bright singles were working the l-hand pattern at eagle creek to runway 21. I announced on unicom, entered left traffic and made 1 normal approach to the adjacent grass and taxiway. With 4 or more aircraft around, I then switched to some night work to the west grass and taxiway adjacent to runway 21. All was normal on the next approach with several aircraft around. On my 3RD approach I executed a steep approach to the taxiway, announcing on unicom. I could see several aircraft holding for takeoff and 1 on short final. About 50 ft AGL in a steep approach, an aircraft operating without navigation lights or beacon appeared in the lower left bubble window, illuminated by the landing lights. I immediately swerved right further over the grass and executed a go around. He never saw me. Lessons: 1) watch for those aircraft without lights. 2) stay away from busy VFR airports at dusk in a helicopter.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IN A HELI ON A STEEP APCH FOR A PRACTICE NIGHT LNDG THE RPTR IS SURPRISED TO SEE A TOMAHAWK WITHOUT POS LIGHTS IN CLOSE PROX TO WHERE HE PLANNED TO LAND AND PULLED UP TO BALK THE LNDG.

Narrative: ON A BEAUTIFUL FALL EVENING (DUSK) I DECIDED TO BRUSH UP ON MY HELI TECHNIQUE AND REGAIN NIGHT CURRENCY IN BELL 206 JETRANGER. LAUNCHED FROM IND TO EAGLE CREEK JUST 4 MI N FOR SOME VFR PATTERN WORK. SEVERAL BRIGHT SINGLES WERE WORKING THE L-HAND PATTERN AT EAGLE CREEK TO RWY 21. I ANNOUNCED ON UNICOM, ENTERED L TFC AND MADE 1 NORMAL APCH TO THE ADJACENT GRASS AND TXWY. WITH 4 OR MORE ACFT AROUND, I THEN SWITCHED TO SOME NIGHT WORK TO THE W GRASS AND TXWY ADJACENT TO RWY 21. ALL WAS NORMAL ON THE NEXT APCH WITH SEVERAL ACFT AROUND. ON MY 3RD APCH I EXECUTED A STEEP APCH TO THE TXWY, ANNOUNCING ON UNICOM. I COULD SEE SEVERAL ACFT HOLDING FOR TKOF AND 1 ON SHORT FINAL. ABOUT 50 FT AGL IN A STEEP APCH, AN ACFT OPERATING WITHOUT NAV LIGHTS OR BEACON APPEARED IN THE LOWER L BUBBLE WINDOW, ILLUMINATED BY THE LNDG LIGHTS. I IMMEDIATELY SWERVED R FURTHER OVER THE GRASS AND EXECUTED A GAR. HE NEVER SAW ME. LESSONS: 1) WATCH FOR THOSE ACFT WITHOUT LIGHTS. 2) STAY AWAY FROM BUSY VFR ARPTS AT DUSK IN A HELI.

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.