Bell 206 helicopter fails to maintain visual separation from a dash 8 on approach.

Attributes
ACN	344323
Time
Date	199608
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt
State Reference	NC
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : clt
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Bell Helicopter Textron Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other other
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors enroute : on vectors
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 3830 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	344323
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was en route flight from west of charlotte douglass clt to a tv station that is just east of the airport. ATC cleared me, a bell 206 into class B airspace. I was instructed to fly toward the approach end of runways 18L and 18R, and to cross the runway at this position. The controller called my attention to incoming traffic on runway 18 and also on runway 23 and advised me to maintain visual separation. At some point about this time an emergency warning light illuminated indicating that a clogged fuel filter was restricting fuel flow to the engine. I remember fixating on the warning light. I'm not sure how long I stared at the light. Then I thought about looking for a landing spot in case I lost power. I then relayed my problem to ATC and requested help. The controller immediately cleared me to the GA ramp. After landing safely I was informed by the tower that I had deviated from the controller's instructions. The pilot of the incoming traffic on runway 18 had filed a complaint that I had not maintained visual separation and caused the pilot to make a climb. As I remember I fixated on the light and let it take priority. I can't explain why. I did not use good judgement in dividing attention between maintaining visual separation and the emergency warning light. I do not know why I handled it that way. I have had an emergency power loss once before and made a successful landing, but it was not in a high density traffic and congested area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BELL 206 HELI FAILS TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION FROM A DASH 8 ON APCH.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE FLT FROM W OF CHARLOTTE DOUGLASS CLT TO A TV STATION THAT IS JUST E OF THE ARPT. ATC CLRED ME, A BELL 206 INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY TOWARD THE APCH END OF RWYS 18L AND 18R, AND TO CROSS THE RWY AT THIS POS. THE CTLR CALLED MY ATTN TO INCOMING TFC ON RWY 18 AND ALSO ON RWY 23 AND ADVISED ME TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION. AT SOME POINT ABOUT THIS TIME AN EMER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT A CLOGGED FUEL FILTER WAS RESTRICTING FUEL FLOW TO THE ENG. I REMEMBER FIXATING ON THE WARNING LIGHT. I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG I STARED AT THE LIGHT. THEN I THOUGHT ABOUT LOOKING FOR A LNDG SPOT IN CASE I LOST PWR. I THEN RELAYED MY PROB TO ATC AND REQUESTED HELP. THE CTLR IMMEDIATELY CLRED ME TO THE GA RAMP. AFTER LNDG SAFELY I WAS INFORMED BY THE TWR THAT I HAD DEVIATED FROM THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS. THE PLT OF THE INCOMING TFC ON RWY 18 HAD FILED A COMPLAINT THAT I HAD NOT MAINTAINED VISUAL SEPARATION AND CAUSED THE PLT TO MAKE A CLB. AS I REMEMBER I FIXATED ON THE LIGHT AND LET IT TAKE PRIORITY. I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY. I DID NOT USE GOOD JUDGEMENT IN DIVIDING ATTN BTWN MAINTAINING VISUAL SEPARATION AND THE EMER WARNING LIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW WHY I HANDLED IT THAT WAY. I HAVE HAD AN EMER PWR LOSS ONCE BEFORE AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL LNDG, BUT IT WAS NOT IN A HIGH DENSITY TFC AND CONGESTED AREA.

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.