Close proximity GA-small transport unk-helicopter in udd traffic pattern.

Attributes
ACN	104010
Time
Date	198902
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : udd
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 900 msl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	landing other other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	103010
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 300
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Approximately 5 mi west of udd cancelled IFR. Psp ATC advised squawk 1200, clear to leave frequency. No traffic reported. Approximately 8 mi west called udd unicom for rental car or taxi and airport advisory. At this time helicopter advised right downwind, 28. I assumed he was way ahead, which he was not. Fortunately I was well above him when I saw him. I was indicating approximately 145 KTS and helicopter made less. I turned base approximately 4000' out and helicopter landed before I turned final. Analysis: fixed wing pilots are used to have helicopters fly lower than standard traffic pattern altitudes and keep pattern much closer to airport. If this is a misconception then we need to get the normal expected and legal procedures to all pilots. If helicopters fly a fixed wing traffic pattern this should include all segments at reasonable speeds. How about some clarification on this?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX GA-SMT UNK-HELICOPTER IN UDD TRAFFIC PATTERN.

Narrative: APPROX 5 MI W OF UDD CANCELLED IFR. PSP ATC ADVISED SQUAWK 1200, CLEAR TO LEAVE FREQ. NO TFC RPTED. APPROX 8 MI W CALLED UDD UNICOM FOR RENTAL CAR OR TAXI AND ARPT ADVISORY. AT THIS TIME HELI ADVISED RIGHT DOWNWIND, 28. I ASSUMED HE WAS WAY AHEAD, WHICH HE WAS NOT. FORTUNATELY I WAS WELL ABOVE HIM WHEN I SAW HIM. I WAS INDICATING APPROX 145 KTS AND HELI MADE LESS. I TURNED BASE APPROX 4000' OUT AND HELI LANDED BEFORE I TURNED FINAL. ANALYSIS: FIXED WING PLTS ARE USED TO HAVE HELIS FLY LOWER THAN STANDARD TFC PATTERN ALTS AND KEEP PATTERN MUCH CLOSER TO ARPT. IF THIS IS A MISCONCEPTION THEN WE NEED TO GET THE NORMAL EXPECTED AND LEGAL PROCS TO ALL PLTS. IF HELIS FLY A FIXED WING TFC PATTERN THIS SHOULD INCLUDE ALL SEGMENTS AT REASONABLE SPDS. HOW ABOUT SOME CLARIFICATION ON THIS?

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.