Pilot of helicopter allegedly transgressed the jfk TCA.

Attributes
ACN	136553
Time
Date	199002
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jfk
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2900 msl bound upper : 3150
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	136553
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed 6n5 (east. 34TH st heliport) for a VFR flight to the vicinity of atlantic city. The altimeter to lga ATIS. At approximately the point indicated, I began a climb to 2900' MSL/AGL. I saw an airline jet (possibly widebody transport) at my 10 O'clock high position. At this time I contacted mcguire approach for radar advisories at 2850' to 2900' I engaged the altitude hold on my flight director and began a slow right turn to avoid the jets wake turbulence if any. I was given radar contact by mcguire approach at 2600' but no altimeter setting. 15-20 mi further along my route, I was given the current altimeter setting by mcguire and noticed that I was 250' higher than anticipated. I corrected my altitude to 2900' and continued only to be told over the radio that I was a TCA violator at jfk. If I was in altitude violation of the TCA, I believe that it was only the result of the difference in altimeter settings. Also a possible conflict could have occurred by running the jfk 13R approach at the same altitude as the floor of the TCA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF HELI ALLEGEDLY TRANSGRESSED THE JFK TCA.

Narrative: I DEPARTED 6N5 (E. 34TH ST HELIPORT) FOR A VFR FLT TO THE VICINITY OF ATLANTIC CITY. THE ALTIMETER TO LGA ATIS. AT APPROX THE POINT INDICATED, I BEGAN A CLB TO 2900' MSL/AGL. I SAW AN AIRLINE JET (POSSIBLY WDB) AT MY 10 O'CLOCK HIGH POS. AT THIS TIME I CONTACTED MCGUIRE APCH FOR RADAR ADVISORIES AT 2850' TO 2900' I ENGAGED THE ALT HOLD ON MY FLT DIRECTOR AND BEGAN A SLOW R TURN TO AVOID THE JETS WAKE TURB IF ANY. I WAS GIVEN RADAR CONTACT BY MCGUIRE APCH AT 2600' BUT NO ALTIMETER SETTING. 15-20 MI FURTHER ALONG MY RTE, I WAS GIVEN THE CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING BY MCGUIRE AND NOTICED THAT I WAS 250' HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED. I CORRECTED MY ALT TO 2900' AND CONTINUED ONLY TO BE TOLD OVER THE RADIO THAT I WAS A TCA VIOLATOR AT JFK. IF I WAS IN ALT VIOLATION OF THE TCA, I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS ONLY THE RESULT OF THE DIFFERENCE IN ALTIMETER SETTINGS. ALSO A POSSIBLE CONFLICT COULD HAVE OCCURRED BY RUNNING THE JFK 13R APCH AT THE SAME ALT AS THE FLOOR OF THE TCA.

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