Helicopter pilot entered ZZZ class C without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	475350
Time
Date	200006
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 1100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Bell Helicopter Textron Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19 flight time total : 2621 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	475350
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Helicopter is operated by the county as an EMS aircraft under part 135. I was the pilot on duty on this day and was required to fly the helicopter to our maintenance facility on ZZZ airport 5.2 mi away. I entered the 5 mi circle prior to establishing 2-WAY radio contact with approach control. My complacency with operating in close proximity to the class C airspace was a contributing factor to breaking this airspace rule. After contacting approach control and landing at the maintenance facility I was given a stern talking to by the controller on duty. No grievance or complaint was filed, however, I feel there is a need for me to report my actions. If for no other reason than to set this event firmly in my memory so that it will never happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI PLT ENTERED ZZZ CLASS C WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: HELI IS OPERATED BY THE COUNTY AS AN EMS ACFT UNDER PART 135. I WAS THE PLT ON DUTY ON THIS DAY AND WAS REQUIRED TO FLY THE HELI TO OUR MAINT FACILITY ON ZZZ ARPT 5.2 MI AWAY. I ENTERED THE 5 MI CIRCLE PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING 2-WAY RADIO CONTACT WITH APCH CTL. MY COMPLACENCY WITH OPERATING IN CLOSE PROX TO THE CLASS C AIRSPACE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO BREAKING THIS AIRSPACE RULE. AFTER CONTACTING APCH CTL AND LNDG AT THE MAINT FACILITY I WAS GIVEN A STERN TALKING TO BY THE CTLR ON DUTY. NO GRIEVANCE OR COMPLAINT WAS FILED, HOWEVER, I FEEL THERE IS A NEED FOR ME TO RPT MY ACTIONS. IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO SET THIS EVENT FIRMLY IN MY MEMORY SO THAT IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN 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.