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Vny tower controller working as controller in charge in addition to local control forgot to restrict a helicopter's altitude resulting in a near midair collision.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1430976 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201703 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | VNY.Airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Helicopter |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | VFR Route |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Gulfstream Jet Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Climb |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Local Supervisor / CIC |
| Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
| Experience | Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (mon) 6 Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 8 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | Other / Unknown |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
I was working clearance delivery; flight data and was controller in charge. Training was being conducted on local 1; 2; and 3 combined. We're in a temporary tower. 80 degrees outside. Air conditioner was not working again! Portable fans were up giving some relief. Maintenance techs came up later and used a temperature meter saying it was over 90 degrees in some parts of the tower cab. Local requested local 3 be split. I called a body up to relieve me on clearance/flight data.I am now working combined controller in charge and local 3. Aircraft Y at 1900 feet called about 7 miles southwest requesting a transition east bound on the 101 freeway. A [military] helicopter (aircraft X) was already in the area patrolling at 1300 feet which I called traffic. There was an unknown aircraft westbound 101 freeway about 2 east of the helicopter around 2300 feet. After all traffic conflicts were resolved I started to formulate a new watch rotation since I had to bring somebody up early. I noticed the helicopter at 1900 feet about 1 1/2 miles southwest of vny when I saw aircraft Y tag on the radar departing near the 101 freeway around 2200 feet turning southeast bound via the SID. Once I realized I never restricted the helicopter to 1300 feet for the transition (we are authorized higher due to terrain south of the freeway) I did call traffic (which should have been a traffic alert) and the helicopter respond with a 'yeah'. Once the helicopter turned southbound they asked to mark the tapes. I had to ask the helicopter to say again about 3 times because I couldn't understand the request. At this point I put in the request for the pilot inquiry. Due to being in the temporary tower and only 5 people are permitted in the cab. Training was in progress and the air conditioning was out of service again. Inside the tower cab was over 80 degrees and working combined positions. For some reason I didn't restrict the altitude of the helicopter like I always do. That was a mistake on my part.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: VNY Tower Controller working as Controller in Charge in addition to Local Control forgot to restrict a helicopter's altitude resulting in a NMAC.
Narrative: I was working Clearance Delivery; Flight Data and was Controller in Charge. Training was being conducted on Local 1; 2; and 3 combined. We're in a temporary tower. 80 degrees outside. Air conditioner was NOT WORKING AGAIN! Portable fans were up giving some relief. Maintenance Techs came up later and used a temperature meter saying it was over 90 degrees in some parts of the tower cab. Local requested Local 3 be split. I called a body up to relieve me on Clearance/Flight Data.I am now working combined Controller in Charge and Local 3. Aircraft Y at 1900 feet called about 7 miles southwest requesting a transition east bound on the 101 freeway. A [military] helicopter (Aircraft X) was already in the area patrolling at 1300 feet which I called traffic. There was an unknown aircraft westbound 101 freeway about 2 east of the helicopter around 2300 feet. After all traffic conflicts were resolved I started to formulate a new watch rotation since I had to bring somebody up early. I noticed the helicopter at 1900 feet about 1 1/2 miles southwest of VNY when I saw Aircraft Y tag on the radar departing near the 101 freeway around 2200 feet turning southeast bound via the SID. Once I realized I never restricted the helicopter to 1300 feet for the transition (we are authorized higher due to terrain south of the freeway) I did call traffic (which should have been a traffic alert) and the helicopter respond with a 'yeah'. Once the helicopter turned southbound they asked to mark the tapes. I had to ask the helicopter to say again about 3 times because I couldn't understand the request. At this point I put in the request for the pilot inquiry. Due to being in the temporary tower and only 5 people are permitted in the cab. Training was in progress and the air conditioning was out of service again. Inside the tower cab was over 80 degrees and working combined positions. For some reason I didn't restrict the altitude of the helicopter like I always do. That was a mistake on my part.
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.