A bell 206 helicopter pilot, on a traffic report assignment, departed myf without permission.

Attributes
ACN	458162
Time
Date	199912
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : myf.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : myf.tower
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	Jet Ranger/Kiowa/206
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 4601 flight time type : 1301
ASRS Report	458162
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Takeoff, for the early morning traffic reports, usually occurred before the tower opens at XA00. However, due to some confusion as to who the onboard camera operator/talent would be, takeoff was delayed a few mins while the correct person got on board and settled in. I heard the ATIS faintly coming in on the #2 radio, but for some reason it didn't register that this meant ATC services were up and running for the airport. Thinking the tower still not in operation, I made a standard CTAF call on the proper frequency using the #1 radio. Unfortunately, I failed to check the volume of the #1 radio -- it was turned all the way down. Because it was a helicopter operation, I didn't use the runway, so no conflict of landing or takeoff of airplanes occurred. After takeoff, still thinking the tower closed, I made another broadcast on CTAF stating my intentions of turning south. It wasn't until I changed frequencys to san that I realized the volume was turned down. Fortunately, no class B airspace violation occurred. Myf tower never called my office wanting to chew me out, and I hope I learned my lessons of at least 3 things not to do again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BELL 206 HELI PLT, ON A TFC RPT ASSIGNMENT, DEPARTED MYF WITHOUT PERMISSION.

Narrative: TKOF, FOR THE EARLY MORNING TFC RPTS, USUALLY OCCURRED BEFORE THE TWR OPENS AT XA00. HOWEVER, DUE TO SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHO THE ONBOARD CAMERA OPERATOR/TALENT WOULD BE, TKOF WAS DELAYED A FEW MINS WHILE THE CORRECT PERSON GOT ON BOARD AND SETTLED IN. I HEARD THE ATIS FAINTLY COMING IN ON THE #2 RADIO, BUT FOR SOME REASON IT DIDN'T REGISTER THAT THIS MEANT ATC SVCS WERE UP AND RUNNING FOR THE ARPT. THINKING THE TWR STILL NOT IN OP, I MADE A STANDARD CTAF CALL ON THE PROPER FREQ USING THE #1 RADIO. UNFORTUNATELY, I FAILED TO CHK THE VOLUME OF THE #1 RADIO -- IT WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN. BECAUSE IT WAS A HELI OP, I DIDN'T USE THE RWY, SO NO CONFLICT OF LNDG OR TKOF OF AIRPLANES OCCURRED. AFTER TKOF, STILL THINKING THE TWR CLOSED, I MADE ANOTHER BROADCAST ON CTAF STATING MY INTENTIONS OF TURNING S. IT WASN'T UNTIL I CHANGED FREQS TO SAN THAT I REALIZED THE VOLUME WAS TURNED DOWN. FORTUNATELY, NO CLASS B AIRSPACE VIOLATION OCCURRED. MYF TWR NEVER CALLED MY OFFICE WANTING TO CHEW ME OUT, AND I HOPE I LEARNED MY LESSONS OF AT LEAST 3 THINGS NOT TO DO AGAIN.

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.