C172 pilot reports seeing helicopter during short flight beneath slc class B; and being told after landing the helicopter pilot will file a near miss report.

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Attributes
ACN	781821
Time
Date	200804
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc.airport
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s56.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s56.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 510 flight time type : 105
ASRS Report	781821
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Miss Distance	horizontal : 400 vertical : 400
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I had landed at 42U and decided to take off and scout out WX to see if I could do my aerial photo mission. I took off and remained clear of the slc class B airspace. Continuing to remain below it; I flew to the ese of slc and noticed a helicopter pass below and in front of me; 400 ft below me; about 400 ft in front of me; but thought nothing of it because it was 100% no factor. Shortly after I noticed I'd neglected to turn my transponder to 'altitude' and switched it from standby to altitude and soon after decided to return to 42U. I landed and was asked to call slc TRACON; which I did. I was told the helicopter pilot was planning on filing a near miss report; which is surprising since there was never any danger for either of us. This was a non issue other than my failing to have my transponder on 'altitude.' there was never an 'oh *&^%!' moment and having to turn away quickly -- again -- I just thought 'there's a helicopter' and kept going since the traffic was no factor at all. From now on; I will leave my transponder on 'altitude' and double-/triple-check its position.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PILOT REPORTS SEEING HELICOPTER DURING SHORT FLIGHT BENEATH SLC CLASS B; AND BEING TOLD AFTER LANDING THE HELICOPTER PILOT WILL FILE A NEAR MISS REPORT.

Narrative: I HAD LANDED AT 42U AND DECIDED TO TAKE OFF AND SCOUT OUT WX TO SEE IF I COULD DO MY AERIAL PHOTO MISSION. I TOOK OFF AND REMAINED CLR OF THE SLC CLASS B AIRSPACE. CONTINUING TO REMAIN BELOW IT; I FLEW TO THE ESE OF SLC AND NOTICED A HELI PASS BELOW AND IN FRONT OF ME; 400 FT BELOW ME; ABOUT 400 FT IN FRONT OF ME; BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT BECAUSE IT WAS 100% NO FACTOR. SHORTLY AFTER I NOTICED I'D NEGLECTED TO TURN MY XPONDER TO 'ALT' AND SWITCHED IT FROM STANDBY TO ALT AND SOON AFTER DECIDED TO RETURN TO 42U. I LANDED AND WAS ASKED TO CALL SLC TRACON; WHICH I DID. I WAS TOLD THE HELI PLT WAS PLANNING ON FILING A NEAR MISS RPT; WHICH IS SURPRISING SINCE THERE WAS NEVER ANY DANGER FOR EITHER OF US. THIS WAS A NON ISSUE OTHER THAN MY FAILING TO HAVE MY XPONDER ON 'ALT.' THERE WAS NEVER AN 'OH *&^%!' MOMENT AND HAVING TO TURN AWAY QUICKLY -- AGAIN -- I JUST THOUGHT 'THERE'S A HELI' AND KEPT GOING SINCE THE TFC WAS NO FACTOR AT ALL. FROM NOW ON; I WILL LEAVE MY XPONDER ON 'ALT' AND DOUBLE-/TRIPLE-CHK ITS POS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.