Military helicopter training flight inadvertently penetrated boi arsa.

Attributes
ACN	137118
Time
Date	199002
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : boi
State Reference	ID
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : boi
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	137118
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After departing gowen field VFR on a heading of 180 degree during a night training flight in a military helicopter I was advised that radar service was terminated by boise departure. I instructed my pilot to initiate a right turn and proceed toward meridian beacon which is approximately 15 mi west of gowen field. I was attempting to tune the ADF radio to the meridian beacon, but could not receive a reliable signal. I have experienced the same problem with other aircraft in the past. The visibility was obstructed by falling snow at this time. As I continued to tune the navigation radio the pilot was orienting himself on what he thought was the lights of the state prison which we normally use for VFR navigation. I determined afterward that he was using the incorrect lights and was disoriented which caused him to turn approximately to 310 degree to 320 degree and continue to climb which caused our aircraft to enter the airport radar service area with out proper clearance. At this time I was able to receive a reliable signal on the ADF. I was called by ATC at which time I requested an IFR clearance. I received the clearance, climbed up into IMC conditions and conducted the routine training flight. I wrote the ADF radio up as being weak, but feel the problem should not surface with numerous aircraft. I would like to know if the meridian beacon operates normal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL HELICOPTER TRAINING FLT INADVERTENTLY PENETRATED BOI ARSA.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING GOWEN FIELD VFR ON A HDG OF 180 DEG DURING A NIGHT TRNING FLT IN A MIL HELI I WAS ADVISED THAT RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED BY BOISE DEP. I INSTRUCTED MY PLT TO INITIATE A R TURN AND PROCEED TOWARD MERIDIAN BEACON WHICH IS APPROX 15 MI W OF GOWEN FIELD. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TUNE THE ADF RADIO TO THE MERIDIAN BEACON, BUT COULD NOT RECEIVE A RELIABLE SIGNAL. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROB WITH OTHER ACFT IN THE PAST. THE VISIBILITY WAS OBSTRUCTED BY FALLING SNOW AT THIS TIME. AS I CONTINUED TO TUNE THE NAV RADIO THE PLT WAS ORIENTING HIMSELF ON WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE LIGHTS OF THE STATE PRISON WHICH WE NORMALLY USE FOR VFR NAV. I DETERMINED AFTERWARD THAT HE WAS USING THE INCORRECT LIGHTS AND WAS DISORIENTED WHICH CAUSED HIM TO TURN APPROX TO 310 DEG TO 320 DEG AND CONTINUE TO CLB WHICH CAUSED OUR ACFT TO ENTER THE ARPT RADAR SVC AREA WITH OUT PROPER CLRNC. AT THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE A RELIABLE SIGNAL ON THE ADF. I WAS CALLED BY ATC AT WHICH TIME I REQUESTED AN IFR CLRNC. I RECEIVED THE CLRNC, CLBED UP INTO IMC CONDITIONS AND CONDUCTED THE ROUTINE TRNING FLT. I WROTE THE ADF RADIO UP AS BEING WEAK, BUT FEEL THE PROB SHOULD NOT SURFACE WITH NUMEROUS ACFT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE MERIDIAN BEACON OPERATES NORMAL.

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.