Close proximity of small aircraft and helicopter in traffic pattern.

Attributes
ACN	272938
Time
Date	199406
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hnl
State Reference	HI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hnl
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 8 flight time total : 975 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	272938
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Traffic conflict was reported to me by tower and another pilot of a turbine helicopter. My aircraft was approaching hnl airport from the northwest with a clearance for a downwind traffic pattern entry from hnl approach. My airplane crossed over the navy marine golf course at 1000 ft. I proceeded to make a right turn for the left downwind to runway 4L and began descent to 800 ft. After I crossed over the airport terminal, a helicopter pilot reported a cessna that was passing near his position. While on downwind, the tower controller advised me that I was 'too low' and that I presented a potential hazard for other aircraft. The tower controller failed to advise me and the helicopter of our close proximity to one another. Under normal conditions, if a helicopter is operating in this area, fixed wing aircraft are restr to descend no lower than 1500 ft MSL until advised by tower. I received no altitude restr from tower or approach. I believe that there was some sort of miscom on the part of the tower, either with the approach controller, the helicopter, or myself. I saw the helicopter prior to reaching the golf course. He was wbound and higher than my airplane. I turned inbound to the airport when I knew that I would safely pass behind it. However, the helicopter was circling and as he was turning, flew over my airplane.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX OF SMA AND HELI IN TFC PATTERN.

Narrative: TFC CONFLICT WAS RPTED TO ME BY TWR AND ANOTHER PLT OF A TURBINE HELI. MY ACFT WAS APCHING HNL ARPT FROM THE NW WITH A CLRNC FOR A DOWNWIND TFC PATTERN ENTRY FROM HNL APCH. MY AIRPLANE CROSSED OVER THE NAVY MARINE GOLF COURSE AT 1000 FT. I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A R TURN FOR THE L DOWNWIND TO RWY 4L AND BEGAN DSCNT TO 800 FT. AFTER I CROSSED OVER THE ARPT TERMINAL, A HELI PLT RPTED A CESSNA THAT WAS PASSING NEAR HIS POS. WHILE ON DOWNWIND, THE TWR CTLR ADVISED ME THAT I WAS 'TOO LOW' AND THAT I PRESENTED A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR OTHER ACFT. THE TWR CTLR FAILED TO ADVISE ME AND THE HELI OF OUR CLOSE PROX TO ONE ANOTHER. UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, IF A HELI IS OPERATING IN THIS AREA, FIXED WING ACFT ARE RESTR TO DSND NO LOWER THAN 1500 FT MSL UNTIL ADVISED BY TWR. I RECEIVED NO ALT RESTR FROM TWR OR APCH. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF MISCOM ON THE PART OF THE TWR, EITHER WITH THE APCH CTLR, THE HELI, OR MYSELF. I SAW THE HELI PRIOR TO REACHING THE GOLF COURSE. HE WAS WBOUND AND HIGHER THAN MY AIRPLANE. I TURNED INBOUND TO THE ARPT WHEN I KNEW THAT I WOULD SAFELY PASS BEHIND IT. HOWEVER, THE HELI WAS CIRCLING AND AS HE WAS TURNING, FLEW OVER MY AIRPLANE.

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.