Formation flight sees and avoids helicopter.

Attributes
ACN	300887
Time
Date	199504
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sju
State Reference	PR
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sju
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Fighter
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Fighter
Operating Under FAR Part	other : other
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : military
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	300887
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : military
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3300
ASRS Report	301021
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On apr/xr/95 at approximately XA00 local we passed a navy helicopter. I was flying as a in a 2 ship flight with B on his local area orientation ride. We had completed a low approach at borinquan airfield 1 of the primary divert fields. From borinquan we departed to the east on an rtb to roosevelt roads naval air station. We were flying tactical formation, 7000 ft line abreast. I was in contact with san juan approach. I informed san juan that we were heading eastbound paralleling the coast line and that we would be below 1000 ft AGL. They indicated that they could accept us into their airspace. Approximately 25 NM later when east of the isla grande airport over the ocean I painted a target 10 mi on the nose on my radar. I then picked up the tally ho of the navy helicopter who was a 180 degrees of aspect off our nose. B called the traffic out to me and stated that the helicopter would pass between our formation. I choose to maneuver my jet toward B so that the helicopter would not pass between our formation. I felt that when the helicopter did see us he would maneuver to the left away from our formation and closer to the coastline. The helicopter saw my turn. The helicopter did turn at this point. I was approximately 400-500 ft from the helicopter at this pass. The helicopter was below my altitude. I had informed san approach that we would be below 1000 ft. Our intention was stay below san juan IFR traffic pattern.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FORMATION FLT SEES AND AVOIDS HELI.

Narrative: ON APR/XR/95 AT APPROX XA00 LCL WE PASSED A NAVY HELI. I WAS FLYING AS A IN A 2 SHIP FLT WITH B ON HIS LCL AREA ORIENTATION RIDE. WE HAD COMPLETED A LOW APCH AT BORINQUAN AIRFIELD 1 OF THE PRIMARY DIVERT FIELDS. FROM BORINQUAN WE DEPARTED TO THE E ON AN RTB TO ROOSEVELT ROADS NAVAL AIR STATION. WE WERE FLYING TACTICAL FORMATION, 7000 FT LINE ABREAST. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH SAN JUAN APCH. I INFORMED SAN JUAN THAT WE WERE HDG EBOUND PARALLELING THE COAST LINE AND THAT WE WOULD BE BELOW 1000 FT AGL. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY COULD ACCEPT US INTO THEIR AIRSPACE. APPROX 25 NM LATER WHEN E OF THE ISLA GRANDE ARPT OVER THE OCEAN I PAINTED A TARGET 10 MI ON THE NOSE ON MY RADAR. I THEN PICKED UP THE TALLY HO OF THE NAVY HELI WHO WAS A 180 DEGS OF ASPECT OFF OUR NOSE. B CALLED THE TFC OUT TO ME AND STATED THAT THE HELI WOULD PASS BTWN OUR FORMATION. I CHOOSE TO MANEUVER MY JET TOWARD B SO THAT THE HELI WOULD NOT PASS BTWN OUR FORMATION. I FELT THAT WHEN THE HELI DID SEE US HE WOULD MANEUVER TO THE L AWAY FROM OUR FORMATION AND CLOSER TO THE COASTLINE. THE HELI SAW MY TURN. THE HELI DID TURN AT THIS POINT. I WAS APPROX 400-500 FT FROM THE HELI AT THIS PASS. THE HELI WAS BELOW MY ALT. I HAD INFORMED SAN APCH THAT WE WOULD BE BELOW 1000 FT. OUR INTENTION WAS STAY BELOW SAN JUAN IFR TFC PATTERN.

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.