Airborne conflict between small transport and military helicopter.

Attributes
ACN	140576
Time
Date	199003
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mcn
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mcn
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 95
ASRS Report	140576
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : military
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 800 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On an IFR flight plan from auo to mcn. Mcn approach was holding us up at an altitude of 6000'. Helicopter traffic was given at our 2-3 O'clock position at 4 mi and 4000'. Acknowledgement was made at the traffic. Mcn then cleared us for a visual approach. From a heading of 090 degree a right turn was made and a descent started in order to pass behind the traffic and square off to a base for runway 5. Upon rollout it was obvious that we could not pass behind the traffic and at our rate of descent and heading would be very close if not a possible collision. Our rate of descent was stopped at 4200' and a turn to the left was begun. The helicopter passed behind and below us. The approach controller noted 'that was very close on my scope.' no further comment was made by the controller or myself. Since helicopter was military not known what was said nor any action he made in avoidance. A descent should not have been made until the traffic had passed. Turns without dscnts would have given more time to make a normal approach and not caused a conflict. Being held so high so close to airport resulted in poor judgement to lose altitude without wasting time in holding or circling to another runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AIRBORNE CONFLICT BETWEEN SMT AND MIL HELICOPTER.

Narrative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

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.