An A319 flight crew intercepting an ILS approach climbed in response to a TCAS RA triggered by a hel...

Attributes
ACN	945103
Time
Date	201104
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	DTW.Airport
State Reference	MI
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210 Flight Crew Total 20000 Flight Crew Type 4000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict NMAC
Miss Distance	Horizontal 0 Vertical 400

Narrative:

As we turned final the approach controller cleared us to descend to 3;500 ft. After we read back the altitude and started our 500 ft descent we were advised of VFR helicopter traffic under balas at 3;000 ft and that this traffic had us in sight. We responded that we were looking for the traffic. While level at 3;500 ft on the localizer; we received a TA and saw the traffic on TCAS 500 ft below us. The target appeared to climb until it was directly below us showing less than 400 ft; at this point we received a RA of 'climb; climb' and a vertical speed of at least 600 ft/min was necessary. We informed ATC of the RA as we were climbing. Our altitude deviation was 400-500 ft. We never had visual contact with the helicopter. As we were still recovering from the RA the controller attempted to clear us for the visual approach; we asked ATC to standby as we were still leveling off and clearing our altitude alarm. ATC then cleared us for the visual for 22L again. We proceeded with the approach and were stabilized by 1;000 ft AGL.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A319 flight crew intercepting an ILS approach climbed in response to a TCAS RA triggered by a helicopter which ATC had advised; level 500 FT below their altitude.

Narrative: As we turned final the Approach Controller cleared us to descend to 3;500 FT. After we read back the altitude and started our 500 FT descent we were advised of VFR helicopter traffic under BALAS at 3;000 FT and that this traffic had us in sight. We responded that we were looking for the traffic. While level at 3;500 FT on the localizer; we received a TA and saw the traffic on TCAS 500 FT below us. The target appeared to climb until it was directly below us showing less than 400 FT; at this point we received a RA of 'climb; climb' and a vertical speed of at least 600 FT/min was necessary. We informed ATC of the RA as we were climbing. Our altitude deviation was 400-500 FT. We never had visual contact with the helicopter. As we were still recovering from the RA the Controller attempted to clear us for the visual approach; we asked ATC to standby as we were still leveling off and clearing our altitude alarm. ATC then cleared us for the visual for 22L again. We proceeded with the approach and were stabilized by 1;000 FT AGL.

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.

An A319 flight crew intercepting an ILS approach climbed in response to a TCAS RA triggered by a helicopter which ATC had advised; level 500 ft below their altitude.