Narrative:

River visual approach runway 18. About 2 mi from key bridge I spotted an aircraft southeast of the bridge moving down the river. At the bridge I questioned the tower. They advised it was a helicopter at 200' and no problem. We continued following the runway, so did the helicopter. We passed over the helicopter at about the memorial bridge at a maximum of 300' directly above him and out of our sight. I should have executed a missed approach. I called the assistant tower chief. He said this was a normal occurrence. Our controller (tower operator) should have pointed out the helicopter to us. There was no conflict. I agree there was no conflict, but no one was really in control. The helicopter may not have been aware of us and what if...?

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT ON RIVER VISUAL APCH CAME IN CLOSE PROX TO HELICOPTER FLYING DOWN THE RIVER.

Narrative: RIVER VISUAL APCH RWY 18. ABOUT 2 MI FROM KEY BRIDGE I SPOTTED AN ACFT SE OF THE BRIDGE MOVING DOWN THE RIVER. AT THE BRIDGE I QUESTIONED THE TWR. THEY ADVISED IT WAS A HELI AT 200' AND NO PROB. WE CONTINUED FOLLOWING THE RWY, SO DID THE HELI. WE PASSED OVER THE HELI AT ABOUT THE MEMORIAL BRIDGE AT A MAX OF 300' DIRECTLY ABOVE HIM AND OUT OF OUR SIGHT. I SHOULD HAVE EXECUTED A MISSED APCH. I CALLED THE ASSISTANT TWR CHIEF. HE SAID THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. OUR CTLR (TWR OPERATOR) SHOULD HAVE POINTED OUT THE HELI TO US. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. I AGREE THERE WAS NO CONFLICT, BUT NO ONE WAS REALLY IN CTL. THE HELI MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF US AND WHAT IF...?

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.