Narrative:

Last night while PIC of a scheduled 121 passenger operation from mco-srq, my aircraft (an embraer 120) was involved in an near midair collision. While descending through approximately 1000 ft MSL on final approach in VMC night conditions, conducting a visual approach, a helicopter cut across our path. We received a TCASII TA just prior to the helicopter crossing our path. At the time of the alert, the TCASII display depicted 2 targets, both -200 ft relative to us. 1 target was almost directly in front (slightly off to the right) and the other target was off our right about 2 mi away. Shortly thereafter, a helicopter was seen passing in front and in our path to the runway. We were established on the VASI. The helicopter was close enough that I believe our landing lights actually illuminated the vessel briefly. The helicopter was in our path for only a second or two. I believe the tower ATC had issued a clearance to the helicopter to proceed to its destination by passing behind us. The helicopter had reported us in sight. Apparently, the tower was concerned about the helicopter's proximity to us and had questioned the helicopter as to whether it had us in sight. I suspect the helicopter pilot may have been looking at the other aircraft and mistook it for us. I filed an near midair collision report where I described the distance as 1/2 mi and 100 ft vertical. After more reflection I suspect the helicopter was closer than that.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMB120 FLC RECEIVES TCASII TA WHILE ON VISUAL APCH TO SRQ.

Narrative: LAST NIGHT WHILE PIC OF A SCHEDULED 121 PAX OP FROM MCO-SRQ, MY ACFT (AN EMBRAER 120) WAS INVOLVED IN AN NMAC. WHILE DSNDING THROUGH APPROX 1000 FT MSL ON FINAL APCH IN VMC NIGHT CONDITIONS, CONDUCTING A VISUAL APCH, A HELI CUT ACROSS OUR PATH. WE RECEIVED A TCASII TA JUST PRIOR TO THE HELI XING OUR PATH. AT THE TIME OF THE ALERT, THE TCASII DISPLAY DEPICTED 2 TARGETS, BOTH -200 FT RELATIVE TO US. 1 TARGET WAS ALMOST DIRECTLY IN FRONT (SLIGHTLY OFF TO THE R) AND THE OTHER TARGET WAS OFF OUR R ABOUT 2 MI AWAY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A HELI WAS SEEN PASSING IN FRONT AND IN OUR PATH TO THE RWY. WE WERE ESTABLISHED ON THE VASI. THE HELI WAS CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I BELIEVE OUR LNDG LIGHTS ACTUALLY ILLUMINATED THE VESSEL BRIEFLY. THE HELI WAS IN OUR PATH FOR ONLY A SECOND OR TWO. I BELIEVE THE TWR ATC HAD ISSUED A CLRNC TO THE HELI TO PROCEED TO ITS DEST BY PASSING BEHIND US. THE HELI HAD RPTED US IN SIGHT. APPARENTLY, THE TWR WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE HELI'S PROX TO US AND HAD QUESTIONED THE HELI AS TO WHETHER IT HAD US IN SIGHT. I SUSPECT THE HELI PLT MAY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE OTHER ACFT AND MISTOOK IT FOR US. I FILED AN NMAC RPT WHERE I DESCRIBED THE DISTANCE AS 1/2 MI AND 100 FT VERT. AFTER MORE REFLECTION I SUSPECT THE HELI WAS CLOSER THAN THAT.

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.