Non adherence to ATC procedure in a rotary winged traffic EMS operation.

Attributes
ACN	307192
Time
Date	199506
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	307192
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was being vectored to final for the NDB-B approach at ZZZ. I was told to maintain 3000 ft until established on final then cleared for approach. By the time I was established on final, I was 0.5 NM from the beacon. I was concerned about the rate of descent necessary to reach the MDA of 1180 ft in the time to map of 2:41. To ensure a controled descent I executed a course reversal from the NDB and executed the procedure turn to bring me down to 2300 ft over the beacon. Upon cancellation of my clearance, I was asked to call ATC and they advised me that I was not cleared for the procedure turn and was expected to continue straight-in. There was no conflict, but they wanted to advise me for future reference. I feel the problem arose because the vector caused me to intercept final too close to the final approach fix. I should have clarified my intention to execute the procedure turn to ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON ADHERENCE TO ATC PROC IN A ROTARY WINGED TFC EMS OP.

Narrative: I WAS BEING VECTORED TO FINAL FOR THE NDB-B APCH AT ZZZ. I WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON FINAL THEN CLRED FOR APCH. BY THE TIME I WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL, I WAS 0.5 NM FROM THE BEACON. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RATE OF DSCNT NECESSARY TO REACH THE MDA OF 1180 FT IN THE TIME TO MAP OF 2:41. TO ENSURE A CTLED DSCNT I EXECUTED A COURSE REVERSAL FROM THE NDB AND EXECUTED THE PROC TURN TO BRING ME DOWN TO 2300 FT OVER THE BEACON. UPON CANCELLATION OF MY CLRNC, I WAS ASKED TO CALL ATC AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT I WAS NOT CLRED FOR THE PROC TURN AND WAS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT-IN. THERE WAS NO CONFLICT, BUT THEY WANTED TO ADVISE ME FOR FUTURE REF. I FEEL THE PROB AROSE BECAUSE THE VECTOR CAUSED ME TO INTERCEPT FINAL TOO CLOSE TO THE FINAL APCH FIX. I SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED MY INTENTION TO EXECUTE THE PROC TURN TO ATC.

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.