Helicopter fails to request clearance through class C airspace.

Attributes
ACN	288931
Time
Date	199411
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 4100 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	288931
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departure from area hospital helipad. Approach control was busy. By the time I could call my own dispatch (call flying over a small uncontrolled field), get approach on the radio, and make the call 'departing hospital, leaving your area to the southwest,' controller acknowledged, I then realized that I hadn't asked for clearance into the outer ring of the arsa, base at 2500 ft MSL. The controller asked what altitude I would like, I said 3000 ft. At that time I was at 2800 ft and 12 mi wsw of airport. I'm sure at 10 M out I was above 2500 ft MSL and therefore in the arsa without asking for or getting an altitude clearance. The distrs of having 5 radios in the aircraft, very new medical crews (the ones on this flight had numerous briefings but only 1 flight in 6 months), and my own lack of preparedness and attention to detail while talking to departure but not asking for my desire of climbing to 3000 ft was the cause, if in fact I did violate controled airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI FAILS TO REQUEST CLRNC THROUGH CLASS C AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DEP FROM AREA HOSPITAL HELIPAD. APCH CTL WAS BUSY. BY THE TIME I COULD CALL MY OWN DISPATCH (CALL FLYING OVER A SMALL UNCTLED FIELD), GET APCH ON THE RADIO, AND MAKE THE CALL 'DEPARTING HOSPITAL, LEAVING YOUR AREA TO THE SW,' CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED, I THEN REALIZED THAT I HADN'T ASKED FOR CLRNC INTO THE OUTER RING OF THE ARSA, BASE AT 2500 FT MSL. THE CTLR ASKED WHAT ALT I WOULD LIKE, I SAID 3000 FT. AT THAT TIME I WAS AT 2800 FT AND 12 MI WSW OF ARPT. I'M SURE AT 10 M OUT I WAS ABOVE 2500 FT MSL AND THEREFORE IN THE ARSA WITHOUT ASKING FOR OR GETTING AN ALT CLRNC. THE DISTRS OF HAVING 5 RADIOS IN THE ACFT, VERY NEW MEDICAL CREWS (THE ONES ON THIS FLT HAD NUMEROUS BRIEFINGS BUT ONLY 1 FLT IN 6 MONTHS), AND MY OWN LACK OF PREPAREDNESS AND ATTN TO DETAIL WHILE TALKING TO DEP BUT NOT ASKING FOR MY DESIRE OF CLBING TO 3000 FT WAS THE CAUSE, IF IN FACT I DID VIOLATE CTLED AIRSPACE.

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.