GA pilot reported experiencing an near midair collision with a helicopter in the pattern at spb airp...

Narrative:

I was completing a local flight; having made appropriate radio calls along 45 degree pattern entry; and in left downwind for runway 15; spb. I had heard the conflicting aircraft make calls along the RNAV 15 approach outside of the FAF; but didn't hear further calls until I was abeam the touchdown point on downwind when the traffic noted he was breaking off the approach and heading southeast. Shortly thereafter I identified the helicopter approaching from just above my altitude approximately 1 mile from the end of the runway; as I was preparing turn to base. I executed a rapid descent; turning toward the base leg. Conflicting traffic passed over and to the right of my aircraft.there were scattered clouds about 4;000-5;000 feet at the time of the incident; with unlimited visibility at and above the pattern.I have thought about this scenario on instrument approaches such as the conflicting aircraft was executing. I have not had this type of encounter from in the pattern; and I may have been able to avoid the encounter by asking conflicting aircraft to identify its location from my position in downwind; and circling out from the downwind leg if I knew he was going to be at my altitude. The presence of active practice on the instrument approaches and a busy VFR airport requires extra vigilance on the part of both pilots.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA pilot reported experiencing an NMAC with a helicopter in the pattern at SPB airport.

Narrative: I was completing a local flight; having made appropriate radio calls along 45 degree pattern entry; and in left downwind for Runway 15; SPB. I had heard the conflicting aircraft make calls along the RNAV 15 approach outside of the FAF; but didn't hear further calls until I was abeam the touchdown point on downwind when the traffic noted he was breaking off the approach and heading southeast. Shortly thereafter I identified the helicopter approaching from just above my altitude approximately 1 mile from the end of the runway; as I was preparing turn to base. I executed a rapid descent; turning toward the base leg. Conflicting traffic passed over and to the right of my aircraft.There were scattered clouds about 4;000-5;000 feet at the time of the incident; with unlimited visibility at and above the pattern.I have thought about this scenario on instrument approaches such as the conflicting aircraft was executing. I have not had this type of encounter from in the pattern; and I may have been able to avoid the encounter by asking conflicting aircraft to identify its location from my position in downwind; and circling out from the downwind leg if I knew he was going to be at my altitude. The presence of active practice on the instrument approaches and a busy VFR airport requires extra vigilance on the part of both pilots.

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.

Attributes
ACN	1378591
Time
Date	201608
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	SPB.Airport
State Reference	OR
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft High Wing 1 Eng Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15 Flight Crew Total 450 Flight Crew Type 275
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC
Miss Distance	Horizontal 500 Vertical 200

GA pilot reported experiencing an near midair collision with a helicopter in the pattern at spb airport.