C172 transitioning teb and ewr class D; voiced concern regarding ATC's failure to initiate proper in...

Narrative:

On initial contact with teb tower; I requested transition southbound and handoff ewr landing ldj. I was cleared to maintain at or below 1;400 ft. I transition from teb tower and when on gsp southbound; controller advised of helicopter traffic at 900 ft. I responded traffic in sight maintaining visual separation; teb controller approved. I was asked to contact ewr tower. Ewr tower controller mentioned about the helicopter traffic which I responded traffic in sight maintaining visual separation; which ewr controller approved. Ewr tower controller mentioned that teb controller didn't arrange the handoff with approach. He mentioned that he will try to arrange; but to remain clear of the class B airspace. I was at 1;400 ft MSL and he asked me to maintain 1;000 ft. I maintained visual separation with the helicopter at all times. Ewr controller said that approach was not picking up the phone and that I needed to circumnavigate the class B airspace. He asked me to squawk VFR and frequency change. I did a very steep turn and remained clear of the class B and class D airspaces for teb and cdw. There is a corridor of 2.0 miles separation between the teb and cdw airspaces. I contacted cdw and asked for transition; which was granted. The cdw controller mentioned that teb called and said that next time I enter their airspace to contact them first. I mentioned that I was with teb and they didn't get the handoff with ewr; which I had to then turn around and circumnavigate. I feel that there is a hole in the system as the class B ceiling begins at 1;500 ft MSL. The teb controller didn't properly arrange the handoff perhaps because I was clear of class B. I was concerned for my safety and the safety of the people in the ground. I was trapped in this tiny airspace. I could not climb; descend; and/or turn due to the incoming helicopter. I did slow flight until the helicopter passed and began a 180 degree turn watching my radius and position in the GPS while maintaining visual separation with the helicopter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 transitioning TEB and EWR Class D; voiced concern regarding ATC's failure to initiate proper inter facility handoff's; resulting in potential conflict with helicopter traffic and Class B incursion.

Narrative: On initial contact with TEB Tower; I requested transition southbound and handoff EWR landing LDJ. I was cleared to maintain at or below 1;400 FT. I transition from TEB Tower and when on GSP southbound; Controller advised of helicopter traffic at 900 FT. I responded traffic in sight maintaining visual separation; TEB Controller approved. I was asked to contact EWR Tower. EWR Tower Controller mentioned about the helicopter traffic which I responded traffic in sight maintaining visual separation; which EWR Controller approved. EWR Tower Controller mentioned that TEB Controller didn't arrange the handoff with Approach. He mentioned that he will try to arrange; but to remain clear of the Class B airspace. I was at 1;400 FT MSL and he asked me to maintain 1;000 FT. I maintained visual separation with the helicopter at all times. EWR Controller said that approach was not picking up the phone and that I needed to circumnavigate the Class B airspace. He asked me to squawk VFR and frequency change. I did a very steep turn and remained clear of the Class B and Class D airspaces for TEB and CDW. There is a corridor of 2.0 miles separation between the TEB and CDW airspaces. I contacted CDW and asked for transition; which was granted. The CDW Controller mentioned that TEB called and said that next time I enter their airspace to contact them first. I mentioned that I was with TEB and they didn't get the handoff with EWR; which I had to then turn around and circumnavigate. I feel that there is a hole in the system as the Class B ceiling begins at 1;500 FT MSL. The TEB Controller didn't properly arrange the handoff perhaps because I was clear of Class B. I was concerned for my safety and the safety of the people in the ground. I was trapped in this tiny airspace. I could not climb; descend; and/or turn due to the incoming helicopter. I did slow flight until the helicopter passed and began a 180 degree turn watching my radius and position in the GPS while maintaining visual separation with the helicopter.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	824045
Time
Date	200902
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	EWR.Airport
State Reference	NJ
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 480 Flight Crew Total 2000 Flight Crew Type 600
Events
Anomaly	Other ATC Handoff Failure
Miss Distance	Horizontal 3000 Vertical 100

C172 transitioning teb and ewr class D; voiced concern regarding ATC's failure to initiate proper inter facility handoff's; resulting in potential conflict with helicopter traffic and class B incursion.