A photo shoot C152 is chased by a police helicopter as the C152 is circling low over the sports stadium north of los angeles downtown.

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Attributes
ACN	416181
Time
Date	199810
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bur
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1200 agl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bur tower : day
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	controller non radar : 5 controller radar : 4 flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 240 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	416181
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 700 vertical : 75
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After transitioning through bur airspace, I was told to maintain VFR. While overflying an area for a photo shoot (1300 ft AGL circling) I spotted a helicopter closing. I rolled to straight and level to determine how to avoid him. The traffic continued turning towards me. I started a climb to avoid traffic. The helicopter finally saw me and immediately began to chase me. I circled about 4 times while he continued to chase behind me (500 ft horizontally, 500 ft below). After my 4TH orbit, the helicopter descended and flew away. Although we were in downtown los angeles, we were in class east airspace. I feel as though the helicopter pilot was not maintaining (see and avoid) VFR rules. I began to take evasive action immediately, however, as he continued turning towards us, we got quite close to one another. When he finally saw me, I think he was upset, so he gave chase. I feel as though this was extremely unprofessional and dangerous.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PHOTO SHOOT C152 IS CHASED BY A POLICE HELI AS THE C152 IS CIRCLING LOW OVER THE SPORTS STADIUM N OF LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN.

Narrative: AFTER TRANSITIONING THROUGH BUR AIRSPACE, I WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN VFR. WHILE OVERFLYING AN AREA FOR A PHOTO SHOOT (1300 FT AGL CIRCLING) I SPOTTED A HELI CLOSING. I ROLLED TO STRAIGHT AND LEVEL TO DETERMINE HOW TO AVOID HIM. THE TFC CONTINUED TURNING TOWARDS ME. I STARTED A CLB TO AVOID TFC. THE HELI FINALLY SAW ME AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO CHASE ME. I CIRCLED ABOUT 4 TIMES WHILE HE CONTINUED TO CHASE BEHIND ME (500 FT HORIZLY, 500 FT BELOW). AFTER MY 4TH ORBIT, THE HELI DSNDED AND FLEW AWAY. ALTHOUGH WE WERE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, WE WERE IN CLASS E AIRSPACE. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE HELI PLT WAS NOT MAINTAINING (SEE AND AVOID) VFR RULES. I BEGAN TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION IMMEDIATELY, HOWEVER, AS HE CONTINUED TURNING TOWARDS US, WE GOT QUITE CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. WHEN HE FINALLY SAW ME, I THINK HE WAS UPSET, SO HE GAVE CHASE. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS WAS EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL AND DANGEROUS.

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.