MD500E helicopter flew through class C airspace without clearance. Reporter pilot had transmitted fo...

Attributes
ACN	388100
Time
Date	199712
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : fat
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1200 msl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : fat
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 21300 flight time type : 6600
ASRS Report	388100
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
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:

On dec/xa/97 at approximately XX20 I was flying as a PIC in a helicopter. About 2 hours earlier, I had contacted le moore tower on 128.3 for a transition through their class D airspace. At XX20 hours I transmitted what I thought at that time was frequency 118.2 and I stated, 'fat tower, 7 mi east, landing at FBO.' at this time the transponder was on 1200. I heard the tower say I was cleared to land. A min later, the tower asked me where I was landing. Again I told him 'at the FBO.' I continued towards fat airport not knowing that I had inadvertently transmitted on 128.3, le moore's NAS tower frequency. I discovered this mistake after I had towed the helicopter into the hangar at the FBO. After I had landed I was advised by dispatcher to call mr Z, the tower supervisor at fat. Mr Z told me that I had not received permission to enter the class C airspace and no verbal evidence of this transmission was on tape. After tower personnel observed my aircraft, mr Z said that the controller had given me the green light from the tower. (I had not seen this green light.) I have now realized my mistake and from now on I will be more cautious prior to transmitting. I will rechk the tower frequency prior to entering any controled airspace. I have been a law enforcement officer flying police patrol for over 20 yrs and I have accumulated over 21000 hours accident free. I am usually very careful in any type of flying I do. From now on I will be even more careful in selecting radio frequencys.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD500E HELI FLEW THROUGH CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC. RPTR PLT HAD XMITTED FOR CLRNC ON ANOTHER ARPT FREQ AND WAS CLRED TO LAND BY OTHER FACILITY.

Narrative: ON DEC/XA/97 AT APPROX XX20 I WAS FLYING AS A PIC IN A HELI. ABOUT 2 HRS EARLIER, I HAD CONTACTED LE MOORE TWR ON 128.3 FOR A TRANSITION THROUGH THEIR CLASS D AIRSPACE. AT XX20 HRS I XMITTED WHAT I THOUGHT AT THAT TIME WAS FREQ 118.2 AND I STATED, 'FAT TWR, 7 MI E, LNDG AT FBO.' AT THIS TIME THE XPONDER WAS ON 1200. I HEARD THE TWR SAY I WAS CLRED TO LAND. A MIN LATER, THE TWR ASKED ME WHERE I WAS LNDG. AGAIN I TOLD HIM 'AT THE FBO.' I CONTINUED TOWARDS FAT ARPT NOT KNOWING THAT I HAD INADVERTENTLY XMITTED ON 128.3, LE MOORE'S NAS TWR FREQ. I DISCOVERED THIS MISTAKE AFTER I HAD TOWED THE HELI INTO THE HANGAR AT THE FBO. AFTER I HAD LANDED I WAS ADVISED BY DISPATCHER TO CALL MR Z, THE TWR SUPVR AT FAT. MR Z TOLD ME THAT I HAD NOT RECEIVED PERMISSION TO ENTER THE CLASS C AIRSPACE AND NO VERBAL EVIDENCE OF THIS XMISSION WAS ON TAPE. AFTER TWR PERSONNEL OBSERVED MY ACFT, MR Z SAID THAT THE CTLR HAD GIVEN ME THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE TWR. (I HAD NOT SEEN THIS GREEN LIGHT.) I HAVE NOW REALIZED MY MISTAKE AND FROM NOW ON I WILL BE MORE CAUTIOUS PRIOR TO XMITTING. I WILL RECHK THE TWR FREQ PRIOR TO ENTERING ANY CTLED AIRSPACE. I HAVE BEEN A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FLYING POLICE PATROL FOR OVER 20 YRS AND I HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER 21000 HRS ACCIDENT FREE. I AM USUALLY VERY CAREFUL IN ANY TYPE OF FLYING I DO. FROM NOW ON I WILL BE EVEN MORE CAREFUL IN SELECTING RADIO FREQS.

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.

MD500E helicopter flew through class C airspace without clearance. Reporter pilot had transmitted for clearance on another airport frequency and was cleared to land by other facility.