Helicopter on orbiting near airport has near midair collision with mooney on downwind.

Attributes
ACN	312404
Time
Date	199508
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : o45
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Mooney Aircraft Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	312404
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 1500 vertical : 350
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was 3 mi northeast of nut tree airport and on frequency 122.7. I announced that I would be crossing the approach to runway 20 and flying to a position 1 - 1 1/2 mi west of the airport, present altitude of 700 ft descending to 500 ft for an orbit. I heard a call from an aircraft on crosswind. I started watching and noticed a cessna entering 45 degree entry to left downwind. As I passed west of the numbers of runway 20, I noticed an aircraft coming at me in a descent. I turned to the left to avoid him and at the same time he began a right turn and called he was a mooney, turning right base. I called we had him in sight and were turning. He rolled out. No further problems. I feel that if he had made a downwind call I could have started earlier maneuvering to remain clear of him. This points out the need for all to communication and understand what has been said. He evidently didn't hear or understand my position and intentions or I missed his downwind call.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI ON ORBITING NEAR ARPT HAS NMAC WITH MOONEY ON DOWNWIND.

Narrative: I WAS 3 MI NE OF NUT TREE ARPT AND ON FREQ 122.7. I ANNOUNCED THAT I WOULD BE XING THE APCH TO RWY 20 AND FLYING TO A POS 1 - 1 1/2 MI W OF THE ARPT, PRESENT ALT OF 700 FT DSNDING TO 500 FT FOR AN ORBIT. I HEARD A CALL FROM AN ACFT ON XWIND. I STARTED WATCHING AND NOTICED A CESSNA ENTERING 45 DEG ENTRY TO L DOWNWIND. AS I PASSED W OF THE NUMBERS OF RWY 20, I NOTICED AN ACFT COMING AT ME IN A DSCNT. I TURNED TO THE L TO AVOID HIM AND AT THE SAME TIME HE BEGAN A R TURN AND CALLED HE WAS A MOONEY, TURNING R BASE. I CALLED WE HAD HIM IN SIGHT AND WERE TURNING. HE ROLLED OUT. NO FURTHER PROBS. I FEEL THAT IF HE HAD MADE A DOWNWIND CALL I COULD HAVE STARTED EARLIER MANEUVERING TO REMAIN CLR OF HIM. THIS POINTS OUT THE NEED FOR ALL TO COM AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS BEEN SAID. HE EVIDENTLY DIDN'T HEAR OR UNDERSTAND MY POS AND INTENTIONS OR I MISSED HIS DOWNWIND CALL.

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.