Narrative:

While on a right downwind departure at cgz (runway 5), a helicopter passed left to right just under and ahead. We had just flown the ILS and were missed vectors for another approach. The traffic was light for cgz; usually 5-12 aircraft wanting the same airspace for approachs. Today, there were only 3 of us. I mention that because I do not recall hearing the helicopter on the radio at any time. Usually, aircraft, including the helicopters that do land at cgz call while on or leaving from the ramp. I tried to reach him on the radio, but no response. There was no evasive action on his part, so I assume that he never saw me, nor was he talking. It appears that he departed south, turned 180 degree and was heading north to overfly the field at 3500 ft. That was confirmed after talking to others on the ground about his departure route. That route of departure is very risky because of numerous aircraft from a large training facility nearby that uses the kpin radio station for an NDB approach, which final approach course is directly in line with the helicopter's departure procedure. I have had several 'close encounters' with small single engine aircraft transitioning the casa grande area without listening or at least responding on the radio. Because of the volume of training there, it is quite dangerous, even if one is familiar with the local (instructor's) procedures and reporting points. There currently is not a high volume of helicopter traffic, but that may change if the cities of phoenix and tucson combine 'evacuate/evacuation' services to casa grande. If that is the case, then local standard arrival/departure procedures must be incorporated and understood by everyone.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA INSTRUCTOR HAS NMAC WITH HELI IN TFC PATTERN AT UNCTLED ARPT.

Narrative: WHILE ON A R DOWNWIND DEP AT CGZ (RWY 5), A HELI PASSED L TO R JUST UNDER AND AHEAD. WE HAD JUST FLOWN THE ILS AND WERE MISSED VECTORS FOR ANOTHER APCH. THE TFC WAS LIGHT FOR CGZ; USUALLY 5-12 ACFT WANTING THE SAME AIRSPACE FOR APCHS. TODAY, THERE WERE ONLY 3 OF US. I MENTION THAT BECAUSE I DO NOT RECALL HEARING THE HELI ON THE RADIO AT ANY TIME. USUALLY, ACFT, INCLUDING THE HELIS THAT DO LAND AT CGZ CALL WHILE ON OR LEAVING FROM THE RAMP. I TRIED TO REACH HIM ON THE RADIO, BUT NO RESPONSE. THERE WAS NO EVASIVE ACTION ON HIS PART, SO I ASSUME THAT HE NEVER SAW ME, NOR WAS HE TALKING. IT APPEARS THAT HE DEPARTED S, TURNED 180 DEG AND WAS HDG N TO OVERFLY THE FIELD AT 3500 FT. THAT WAS CONFIRMED AFTER TALKING TO OTHERS ON THE GND ABOUT HIS DEP RTE. THAT RTE OF DEP IS VERY RISKY BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS ACFT FROM A LARGE TRAINING FACILITY NEARBY THAT USES THE KPIN RADIO STATION FOR AN NDB APCH, WHICH FINAL APCH COURSE IS DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THE HELI'S DEP PROC. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL 'CLOSE ENCOUNTERS' WITH SMALL SINGLE ENG ACFT TRANSITIONING THE CASA GRANDE AREA WITHOUT LISTENING OR AT LEAST RESPONDING ON THE RADIO. BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF TRAINING THERE, IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS, EVEN IF ONE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE LCL (INSTRUCTOR'S) PROCS AND RPTING POINTS. THERE CURRENTLY IS NOT A HIGH VOLUME OF HELI TFC, BUT THAT MAY CHANGE IF THE CITIES OF PHOENIX AND TUCSON COMBINE 'EVAC' SVCS TO CASA GRANDE. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN LCL STANDARD ARR/DEP PROCS MUST BE INCORPORATED AND UNDERSTOOD BY EVERYONE.

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.