Pilot of small aircraft reports near midair collision in pattern with helicopter flying non-standard...

Attributes
ACN	784685
Time
Date	200804
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rbw.airport
State Reference	SC
Altitude	agl single value : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 380 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	784685
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Miss Distance	horizontal : 400 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Situations
ATC Facility	communication equipment : 01g.fss

Narrative:

I set up and entered a downwind approach to runway 17. A helicopter called 'departing 17.' I then made a radio call that I was downwind runway 17. I flew a tight pattern (roughly 1/2 mi) to avoid a collision in the traffic pattern; if (I was unknown to the helicopter's intentions) the helicopter was going to remain in the traffic pattern. After I turned and then called for the base leg; I heard the helicopter call downwind runway 17 nonstandard pattern with right turn; while I was in a standard pattern with left turns; but was unable to find the helicopter in the pattern. I then turned final and was on a very short final when I heard the helicopter make a radio call for base runway 17. I looked out my right window to see the helicopter 500 ft and closing. The course was not collision; but was too close for comfort. I made the radio call for short final runway 17; and as I made the call; the helicopter performed a 360 degree turn in the pattern for spacing. After that; the helicopters made standard traffic patterns for the remainder of the day. The situation was corrected; but part of the problem was the helicopter pilot not listening to other radio calls. I have been flying at low country regional airport for 3 months and have had at least 1 near miss (most of them in or near the traffic pattern) every month. Low country regional airport is a busy airport for all types; category; and class of aircraft. I feel an ATC tower would alleviate these problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA REPORTS NMAC IN PATTERN WITH HELI FLYING NON-STANDARD RIGHT HAND PATTERNS AND NOT RESPONDING TO CTAF TRANSMISSIONS.

Narrative: I SET UP AND ENTERED A DOWNWIND APCH TO RWY 17. A HELI CALLED 'DEPARTING 17.' I THEN MADE A RADIO CALL THAT I WAS DOWNWIND RWY 17. I FLEW A TIGHT PATTERN (ROUGHLY 1/2 MI) TO AVOID A COLLISION IN THE TFC PATTERN; IF (I WAS UNKNOWN TO THE HELI'S INTENTIONS) THE HELI WAS GOING TO REMAIN IN THE TFC PATTERN. AFTER I TURNED AND THEN CALLED FOR THE BASE LEG; I HEARD THE HELI CALL DOWNWIND RWY 17 NONSTANDARD PATTERN WITH R TURN; WHILE I WAS IN A STANDARD PATTERN WITH L TURNS; BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE HELI IN THE PATTERN. I THEN TURNED FINAL AND WAS ON A VERY SHORT FINAL WHEN I HEARD THE HELI MAKE A RADIO CALL FOR BASE RWY 17. I LOOKED OUT MY R WINDOW TO SEE THE HELI 500 FT AND CLOSING. THE COURSE WAS NOT COLLISION; BUT WAS TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. I MADE THE RADIO CALL FOR SHORT FINAL RWY 17; AND AS I MADE THE CALL; THE HELI PERFORMED A 360 DEG TURN IN THE PATTERN FOR SPACING. AFTER THAT; THE HELIS MADE STANDARD TFC PATTERNS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. THE SITUATION WAS CORRECTED; BUT PART OF THE PROB WAS THE HELI PLT NOT LISTENING TO OTHER RADIO CALLS. I HAVE BEEN FLYING AT LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL ARPT FOR 3 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD AT LEAST 1 NEAR MISS (MOST OF THEM IN OR NEAR THE TFC PATTERN) EVERY MONTH. LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL ARPT IS A BUSY ARPT FOR ALL TYPES; CATEGORY; AND CLASS OF ACFT. I FEEL AN ATC TWR WOULD ALLEVIATE THESE PROBS.

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.

Pilot of small aircraft reports near midair collision in pattern with helicopter flying non-standard right hand patterns and not responding to CTAF transmissions.