A pilot on initial approach to toa runway 29R had a near miss at 1;100 ft after a helicopter pilot d...

Attributes
ACN	1176434
Time
Date	201405
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	TOA.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach Direct
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15 Flight Crew Total 2340 Flight Crew Type 1300
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural FAR
Miss Distance	Horizontal 200 Vertical 50

Narrative:

I was cleared to land on runway 29R and was approaching the north traffic pattern for that runway on a standard 45 degree entry at 1;200 ft descending to pattern altitude (1;100 ft). Tower advised of northbound helicopter traffic 'restricted below 800 ft.' just as I was beginning my left turn to downwind; I glimpsed the helicopter for just a second as it passed close beneath my left wing. There was no time for evasion. Had I initiated my turn one second earlier; there likely would have been a collision.I reported the incident on ground control. The controller told me that the city's noise abatement personnel; responding t0 a few homeowners who are annoyed by helicopters flying over their homes; have been using letters and 'tickets' to intimidate helicopter pilots into flying at higher altitudes. The tower simply responds to the helicopter pilots' requests. He also agreed that it may take one or more fatal mid-air collisions to halt this intimidation.I am aware of a number of other similar conflicts with helicopter traffic over the past year that required evasive action on the part of at least one of the pilots.the elimination of altitude separation around the airport is very dangerous and should cease. Intimidation of the pilots by city personnel is a violation of far 91.11 and should cease.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A pilot on initial approach to TOA Runway 29R had a near miss at 1;100 FT after a helicopter pilot deviated from his 800 FT altitude constraint because of intimidation by city personnel about neighborhood noise complaints.

Narrative: I was cleared to land on Runway 29R and was approaching the north traffic pattern for that runway on a standard 45 degree entry at 1;200 FT descending to pattern altitude (1;100 FT). Tower advised of northbound helicopter traffic 'restricted below 800 FT.' Just as I was beginning my left turn to downwind; I glimpsed the helicopter for just a second as it passed close beneath my left wing. There was no time for evasion. Had I initiated my turn one second earlier; there likely would have been a collision.I reported the incident on Ground Control. The Controller told me that the city's noise abatement personnel; responding t0 a few homeowners who are annoyed by helicopters flying over their homes; have been using letters and 'tickets' to intimidate helicopter pilots into flying at higher altitudes. The Tower simply responds to the helicopter pilots' requests. He also agreed that it may take one or more fatal mid-air collisions to halt this intimidation.I am aware of a number of other similar conflicts with helicopter traffic over the past year that required evasive action on the part of at least one of the pilots.The elimination of altitude separation around the airport is very dangerous and should cease. Intimidation of the pilots by city personnel is a violation of FAR 91.11 and should cease.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

A pilot on initial approach to toa runway 29R had a near miss at 1;100 ft after a helicopter pilot deviated from his 800 ft altitude constraint because of intimidation by city personnel about neighborhood noise complaints.