Banner towing aircraft took evasive action to avoid coast guard helicopter.

Attributes
ACN	302700
Time
Date	199504
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 500 msl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : syr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 19000
ASRS Report	302700
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 150
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While towing an aerial advertising banner sbound 1/2 mi off of the manhattan beach shoreline, the pilot of the banner tow (me) had to alter course to left to avoid a coast guard helicopter that was northbound. In this course of action, I had to change my direction and altitude a little. I was forced to descend slightly below 500 ft and to come within 2000 ft of shoreline. I, the pilot, and our banner company, hope this did not upset any beach goers or residents of manhattan beach. This action had to be in the interest of safety!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BANNER TOWING ACFT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID COAST GUARD HELI.

Narrative: WHILE TOWING AN AERIAL ADVERTISING BANNER SBOUND 1/2 MI OFF OF THE MANHATTAN BEACH SHORELINE, THE PLT OF THE BANNER TOW (ME) HAD TO ALTER COURSE TO L TO AVOID A COAST GUARD HELI THAT WAS NBOUND. IN THIS COURSE OF ACTION, I HAD TO CHANGE MY DIRECTION AND ALT A LITTLE. I WAS FORCED TO DSND SLIGHTLY BELOW 500 FT AND TO COME WITHIN 2000 FT OF SHORELINE. I, THE PLT, AND OUR BANNER COMPANY, HOPE THIS DID NOT UPSET ANY BEACH GOERS OR RESIDENTS OF MANHATTAN BEACH. THIS ACTION HAD TO BE IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY!

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.