Narrative:

I am writing to alert you to many observed safety issues at the auburn municipal airport. The airport has recently become the home of several helicopter operations and is a very active training spot for other helicopter operators and fixed wing in the seattle area. The daily occurrence of conflict with fixed wing aircraft should be of concern to you and has gotten the attention of almost all pilots and instructors at auburn.examples:1) helicopters using both left and right patterns simultaneously (one on runway; one on taxiway) while fixed wing are taxiing. Rotorcraft hover-taxiing in all directions. I had this happen twice last week while taxiing an aircraft. A helicopter landed over me opposite direction on the taxiway.2) both helicopters and fixed wing needing to go around frequently due to rotorcraft sitting on centerline for a minute or two with several ships in the pattern. You can imagine the problem that causes.3) helicopters hovering very near the runway while fixed wing are taking off and landing. I have observed the resultant lateral displacement of an aircraft flown by a student pilot on the field...close call. This is not an infrequent occurrence.4) helicopters seemingly unaware of the damage and debris flying in their wash near open hangars and fuel pits.5) helicopters doing 300 foot quick patterns and turning inside aircraft in the pattern. Observed daily (usually by an operator from [another nearby airport]). 6) the obvious difference in speed; maneuverability and level of experience at this uncontrolled airport is a factor in many of these incidents.7) lastly; there is quite a definite lack of english speaking skills on the radio with instructors allowing students to 'practice' on the frequency; which definitely contributes to confusion in and around the pattern. Pilots are getting quite frustrated with the inability to understand other aircraft and rotorcraft on and near the airport.I'm sure that on any given day when the weather is good; if someone were to listen on the CTAF and watch the movements at auburn airport they might be appalled by the lack of standardization; safety; professionalism and adherence to general operating principles that keep aircraft from bumping into one another. Someone with less tact might refer to it as a zoo with pattern and taxiway issues. It would behoove the FSDO to have a meeting of helicopter operators (not just the ones based there) and GA pilots/instructors before an accident or incident occurs.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: General aviation pilot expressed concern about the safety of mixed helicopter and fixed wing operations at S50 airport.

Narrative: I am writing to alert you to many observed safety issues at the Auburn Municipal Airport. The airport has recently become the home of several helicopter operations and is a very active training spot for other helicopter operators and fixed wing in the Seattle area. The daily occurrence of conflict with fixed wing aircraft should be of concern to you and has gotten the attention of almost all pilots and instructors at Auburn.Examples:1) Helicopters using both left and right patterns simultaneously (one on runway; one on taxiway) while fixed wing are taxiing. Rotorcraft hover-taxiing in all directions. I had this happen twice last week while taxiing an aircraft. A helicopter landed over me opposite direction on the taxiway.2) Both helicopters and fixed wing needing to go around frequently due to rotorcraft sitting on centerline for a minute or two with several ships in the pattern. You can imagine the problem that causes.3) Helicopters hovering very near the runway while fixed wing are taking off and landing. I have observed the resultant lateral displacement of an aircraft flown by a student pilot on the field...close call. This is not an infrequent occurrence.4) Helicopters seemingly unaware of the damage and debris flying in their wash near open hangars and fuel pits.5) Helicopters doing 300 foot quick patterns and turning inside aircraft in the pattern. Observed daily (usually by an operator from [another nearby airport]). 6) The obvious difference in speed; maneuverability and level of experience at this uncontrolled airport is a factor in many of these incidents.7) Lastly; there is quite a definite lack of English speaking skills on the radio with instructors allowing students to 'practice' on the frequency; which definitely contributes to confusion in and around the pattern. Pilots are getting quite frustrated with the inability to understand other aircraft and rotorcraft on and near the airport.I'm sure that on any given day when the weather is good; if someone were to listen on the CTAF and watch the movements at Auburn airport they might be appalled by the lack of standardization; safety; professionalism and adherence to general operating principles that keep aircraft from bumping into one another. Someone with less tact might refer to it as a zoo with pattern and taxiway issues. It would behoove the FSDO to have a meeting of helicopter operators (not just the ones based there) and GA pilots/instructors before an accident or incident occurs.

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.