Near midair collision.

Attributes
ACN	206677
Time
Date	199203
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rdu airport : w17
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : day
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 1450
ASRS Report	206677
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : investigated Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 200 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Coming back from a training flight, we were approaching the traffic pattern from the s-sw at 1300 ft MSL. We heard and saw the helicopter entering at a 45 degree angle downwind. We entered the traffic pattern on a full downwind and announced our position and intentions. We tried to establish contact with the helicopter -- no answer. About 1/4 length of the runway, the helicopter veered about 45 degrees off to the left towards the middle of the runway, and then paralleled the runway (centerline -- helicopter equalled approximately 200 ft). Observing the helicopter flight path, we were closing up on about the same height. Being almost abeam the numbers, and being well clear of the helicopter, we started to go through cockpit procedures to prepare for landing (carburetor heat -- power back -- flaps -- airspeed). Looking back to observe the helicopter we saw that the helicopter changed his flight path and was now flying a 45 degree angle towards us, closed up within approximately 200 ft and then paralleling our flight path. Being at a lower altitude and to avoid a possible midair collision and to keep visual contact with the helicopter, I decide to execute a short approach (power idle -- full flaps) to clear the helicopter flight path below him (approximately 200 ft) and slightly behind him. We landed the airplane, rolled out and cleared the runway at the end and waited for helicopter traffic over the numbers to clear for us to back taxi. After both aircraft had been parked both aircraft met for a discussion. Helicopter student did not answer radio call. Low time helicopter student approximately 25 hours, 16 yr old, second or third solo flight back from practice area. A judgement and decision had to be taken very fast to prevent possible midair collision. Knowing and understanding far 91.113/91.127(B)(2) and aim, I believe that, in this occurrence, something had to be done fast and by not violating far's. I consider the action take as a possible prevention of a midair collision. This occurrence was discussed by me and the local FSDO to give the local FSDO insight to this matter.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NMAC.

Narrative: COMING BACK FROM A TRAINING FLT, WE WERE APCHING THE TFC PATTERN FROM THE S-SW AT 1300 FT MSL. WE HEARD AND SAW THE HELI ENTERING AT A 45 DEG ANGLE DOWNWIND. WE ENTERED THE TFC PATTERN ON A FULL DOWNWIND AND ANNOUNCED OUR POS AND INTENTIONS. WE TRIED TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH THE HELI -- NO ANSWER. ABOUT 1/4 LENGTH OF THE RWY, THE HELI VEERED ABOUT 45 DEGS OFF TO THE L TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE RWY, AND THEN PARALLELED THE RWY (CTRLINE -- HELI EQUALLED APPROX 200 FT). OBSERVING THE HELI FLT PATH, WE WERE CLOSING UP ON ABOUT THE SAME HEIGHT. BEING ALMOST ABEAM THE NUMBERS, AND BEING WELL CLR OF THE HELI, WE STARTED TO GO THROUGH COCKPIT PROCS TO PREPARE FOR LNDG (CARB HEAT -- PWR BACK -- FLAPS -- AIRSPD). LOOKING BACK TO OBSERVE THE HELI WE SAW THAT THE HELI CHANGED HIS FLT PATH AND WAS NOW FLYING A 45 DEG ANGLE TOWARDS US, CLOSED UP WITHIN APPROX 200 FT AND THEN PARALLELING OUR FLT PATH. BEING AT A LOWER ALT AND TO AVOID A POSSIBLE MIDAIR COLLISION AND TO KEEP VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE HELI, I DECIDE TO EXECUTE A SHORT APCH (PWR IDLE -- FULL FLAPS) TO CLR THE HELI FLT PATH BELOW HIM (APPROX 200 FT) AND SLIGHTLY BEHIND HIM. WE LANDED THE AIRPLANE, ROLLED OUT AND CLRED THE RWY AT THE END AND WAITED FOR HELI TFC OVER THE NUMBERS TO CLR FOR US TO BACK TAXI. AFTER BOTH ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED BOTH ACFT MET FOR A DISCUSSION. HELI STUDENT DID NOT ANSWER RADIO CALL. LOW TIME HELI STUDENT APPROX 25 HRS, 16 YR OLD, SECOND OR THIRD SOLO FLT BACK FROM PRACTICE AREA. A JUDGEMENT AND DECISION HAD TO BE TAKEN VERY FAST TO PREVENT POSSIBLE MIDAIR COLLISION. KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING FAR 91.113/91.127(B)(2) AND AIM, I BELIEVE THAT, IN THIS OCCURRENCE, SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE FAST AND BY NOT VIOLATING FAR'S. I CONSIDER THE ACTION TAKE AS A POSSIBLE PREVENTION OF A MIDAIR COLLISION. THIS OCCURRENCE WAS DISCUSSED BY ME AND THE LCL FSDO TO GIVE THE LCL FSDO INSIGHT TO THIS MATTER.

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.