Narrative:

Emergency in progress. C320 (aircraft X) inbound with nose gear not fully extended. Abq airport under major renovation. Out of 4 runways available, 1 is completely closed, 2 are partially closed, and only 1 is open full length. The twin cessna had enough fuel to orbit north of airport to allow for preparation of emergency landing on runway 26. Airport management opened runway 21 full length to accommodate landing aircraft once runway 26 was closed by emergency aircraft. Local tv stations learned of the situation and dispatched 2 helicopters (aircraft Y). As local controller in the tower, I instructed both helicopters to remain northwest of the airport (specifically north of runway 8/26 and west of runway 17/35). After the C320 landed on runway 26 (nose gear collapsed -- aircraft damaged but no injuries), I observed one of the helicopters fly east of runway 17/35 and across the final of runway 21. I informed the pilot of the helicopter that he had been instructed to remain west of runway 17/35 and that there was traffic on final to runway 21 (the C182, aircraft Z). I then instructed the helicopter to continue eastbound and remain east of runway 26. I issued traffic to the C182 on final: helicopter at 11 O'clock, 1 1/2 mi, 300 ft below. I had both the helicopter and C182 in sight, providing visual separation. If my attention had been diverted, however, loss of separation and possible midair collision would have occurred. The cause: helicopter pilot not complying with ATC instructions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAB LCL CTLR AGAIN INSTRUCTS NEWS HELI TO REMAIN IN A POS AWAY FROM AN EMER SIT OCCURRING AT THE ARPT AND AWAY FROM TFC LNDG ON ANOTHER RWY.

Narrative: EMER IN PROGRESS. C320 (ACFT X) INBOUND WITH NOSE GEAR NOT FULLY EXTENDED. ABQ ARPT UNDER MAJOR RENOVATION. OUT OF 4 RWYS AVAILABLE, 1 IS COMPLETELY CLOSED, 2 ARE PARTIALLY CLOSED, AND ONLY 1 IS OPEN FULL LENGTH. THE TWIN CESSNA HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO ORBIT N OF ARPT TO ALLOW FOR PREPARATION OF EMER LNDG ON RWY 26. ARPT MGMNT OPENED RWY 21 FULL LENGTH TO ACCOMMODATE LNDG ACFT ONCE RWY 26 WAS CLOSED BY EMER ACFT. LCL TV STATIONS LEARNED OF THE SIT AND DISPATCHED 2 HELIS (ACFT Y). AS LCL CTLR IN THE TWR, I INSTRUCTED BOTH HELIS TO REMAIN NW OF THE ARPT (SPECIFICALLY N OF RWY 8/26 AND W OF RWY 17/35). AFTER THE C320 LANDED ON RWY 26 (NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED -- ACFT DAMAGED BUT NO INJURIES), I OBSERVED ONE OF THE HELIS FLY E OF RWY 17/35 AND ACROSS THE FINAL OF RWY 21. I INFORMED THE PLT OF THE HELI THAT HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO REMAIN W OF RWY 17/35 AND THAT THERE WAS TFC ON FINAL TO RWY 21 (THE C182, ACFT Z). I THEN INSTRUCTED THE HELI TO CONTINUE EBOUND AND REMAIN E OF RWY 26. I ISSUED TFC TO THE C182 ON FINAL: HELI AT 11 O'CLOCK, 1 1/2 MI, 300 FT BELOW. I HAD BOTH THE HELI AND C182 IN SIGHT, PROVIDING VISUAL SEPARATION. IF MY ATTN HAD BEEN DIVERTED, HOWEVER, LOSS OF SEPARATION AND POSSIBLE MIDAIR COLLISION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE CAUSE: HELI PLT NOT COMPLYING WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS.

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.