Close proximity commuter-light transport light transport-helicopter in mdw arsa.

Attributes
ACN	119376
Time
Date	198908
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mdw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 3000
ASRS Report	119376
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : nmac non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 100 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Error

Narrative:

We had flown the ILS to runway 31L at mdw and had been instructed by the tower to circle north for a landing on runway 22L. As we broke off the approach we were cleared to land on runway 22L. A few moments after turning a left base, approximately 3 mi from the airport, I observed a helicopter at our altitude (2000' MSL), about 1000' in front of us, headed in the opp direction. I informed the first officer of the situation while I executed a climbing left hand turn to avoid the helicopter, which did not deviate and passed approximately 100' below and to the right of us. I then informed the tower of what had occurred and the controller stated that the helicopter had been instructed to maintain 1500' or below until clear of the arsa. We then completed the approach and landing west/O further incident. Factors contributing to this incident: 1) the helicopter pilot apparently did not maintain the assigned altitude of 1500' or below. 2) we were not advised of any traffic in the area. 3) there was an apparent lack of communication between the arsa controller, who was in contact with the helicopter and the local controller who was in contact with us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX COMMUTER-LTT LTT-HELICOPTER IN MDW ARSA.

Narrative: WE HAD FLOWN THE ILS TO RWY 31L AT MDW AND HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY THE TWR TO CIRCLE N FOR A LNDG ON RWY 22L. AS WE BROKE OFF THE APCH WE WERE CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 22L. A FEW MOMENTS AFTER TURNING A LEFT BASE, APPROX 3 MI FROM THE ARPT, I OBSERVED A HELI AT OUR ALT (2000' MSL), ABOUT 1000' IN FRONT OF US, HEADED IN THE OPP DIRECTION. I INFORMED THE F/O OF THE SITUATION WHILE I EXECUTED A CLBING LEFT HAND TURN TO AVOID THE HELI, WHICH DID NOT DEVIATE AND PASSED APPROX 100' BELOW AND TO THE RIGHT OF US. I THEN INFORMED THE TWR OF WHAT HAD OCCURRED AND THE CTLR STATED THAT THE HELI HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 1500' OR BELOW UNTIL CLR OF THE ARSA. WE THEN COMPLETED THE APCH AND LNDG W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS INCIDENT: 1) THE HELI PLT APPARENTLY DID NOT MAINTAIN THE ASSIGNED ALT OF 1500' OR BELOW. 2) WE WERE NOT ADVISED OF ANY TFC IN THE AREA. 3) THERE WAS AN APPARENT LACK OF COM BTWN THE ARSA CTLR, WHO WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE HELI AND THE LCL CTLR WHO WAS IN CONTACT WITH US.

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.