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An EMS helicopter pilot experiences an near midair collision near ZZZ class C airspace and may have entered that area while taking evasive action from a high wing cessna in a class G airport near ZZZ, us.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 455658 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199911 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 900 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : cae.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air taxi |
| Make Model Name | Bell Helicopter Textron Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : direct |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Cessna Single Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : vacating altitude |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 300 |
| ASRS Report | 455658 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | airspace violation : entry conflict : nmac non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : took evasive action |
| Miss Distance | vertical : 300 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Environmental Factor Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
While en route northbound from an automobile accident scene to a trauma center with a patient aboard, I was instructed by approach control to remain outside class C airspace. I programmed my GPS to the airport at the center of the class C airspace in order to maintain a 5 mi radius. This radius took me over an uncontrolled airport. A high wing cessna at my 12 O'clock high position appeared to be descending as it approached my aircraft. I would estimate vertical separation to be approximately 500 ft, initially, but by the time I banked left and started to descend, the vertical separation may have diminished to around 300 ft. My left bank may have put me 1/4 mi inside the class C airspace. Extra diligence is called for in the area of uncontrolled airports. Don't expect separation from ATC if they haven't informed you that you are in radar contact. Lessons 1 and 2.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN EMS HELI PLT EXPERIENCES AN NMAC NEAR ZZZ CLASS C AIRSPACE AND MAY HAVE ENTERED THAT AREA WHILE TAKING EVASIVE ACTION FROM A HIGH WING CESSNA IN A CLASS G ARPT NEAR ZZZ, US.
Narrative: WHILE ENRTE NBOUND FROM AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT SCENE TO A TRAUMA CTR WITH A PATIENT ABOARD, I WAS INSTRUCTED BY APCH CTL TO REMAIN OUTSIDE CLASS C AIRSPACE. I PROGRAMMED MY GPS TO THE ARPT AT THE CTR OF THE CLASS C AIRSPACE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A 5 MI RADIUS. THIS RADIUS TOOK ME OVER AN UNCTLED ARPT. A HIGH WING CESSNA AT MY 12 O'CLOCK HIGH POS APPEARED TO BE DSNDING AS IT APCHED MY ACFT. I WOULD ESTIMATE VERT SEPARATION TO BE APPROX 500 FT, INITIALLY, BUT BY THE TIME I BANKED L AND STARTED TO DSND, THE VERT SEPARATION MAY HAVE DIMINISHED TO AROUND 300 FT. MY L BANK MAY HAVE PUT ME 1/4 MI INSIDE THE CLASS C AIRSPACE. EXTRA DILIGENCE IS CALLED FOR IN THE AREA OF UNCTLED ARPTS. DON'T EXPECT SEPARATION FROM ATC IF THEY HAVEN'T INFORMED YOU THAT YOU ARE IN RADAR CONTACT. LESSONS 1 AND 2.
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.