Narrative:

We were transporting a critically ill patient from ZZZ to YYY, under a VFR flight plan. Using a specified call sign. We operated the entire flight at 2000 ft MSL, below which is not unusual for such a short flight. When operating on this route in the past, I have always contacted ZZZ approach prior to approaching the 20 NM outer radius of ZZZ class C airspace. As I approached 20 NM from ZZZ, there were numerous uncontrolled VFR targets operating in the vicinity -- some legally inside, but below the 2000 ft floor of the 20 NM outer shelf of class C airspace. As always, we were using the common TA frequency (CTAF) to separate our aircraft from the uncontrolled traffic in the area. Because I was also already below 2000 ft, and ZZZ approach would not be able to provide separation from the uncontrolled traffic inside and below the 20 NM shelf, I was obligated to actively use the CTAF in order to safely proceed. In light of our urgent lifeguard mission, we established 2-WAY radio communication with ZZZ approach prior to entering the 5 NM inner radius of class C airspace. After assigning a transponder code, ZZZ approach momentarily paused as we acknowledged and continued inbound. After asking us to restate our position, ZZZ approach immediately handed us off to ZZZ tower. ZZZ tower may not have gotten the handoff, because they were confused as to our position and intentions on right downwind. I then realized that traffic saturation at the field was too high, and made a left turn to the east in an attempt to depart the traffic. I was then instructed to make a right 360 degree and hold our position. Before being able to make the turn, we were given clearance to land 'short approach.' I feel the situation may have been prevented if: ZZZ approach instructed us to 'remain clear of class C if traffic saturation was too high.' the northeast 20 NM radius floor is extended to the surface.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C414 PLT ENTERED CLASS C WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE TRANSPORTING A CRITICALLY ILL PATIENT FROM ZZZ TO YYY, UNDER A VFR FLT PLAN. USING A SPECIFIED CALL SIGN. WE OPERATED THE ENTIRE FLT AT 2000 FT MSL, BELOW WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR SUCH A SHORT FLT. WHEN OPERATING ON THIS RTE IN THE PAST, I HAVE ALWAYS CONTACTED ZZZ APCH PRIOR TO APCHING THE 20 NM OUTER RADIUS OF ZZZ CLASS C AIRSPACE. AS I APCHED 20 NM FROM ZZZ, THERE WERE NUMEROUS UNCTLED VFR TARGETS OPERATING IN THE VICINITY -- SOME LEGALLY INSIDE, BUT BELOW THE 2000 FT FLOOR OF THE 20 NM OUTER SHELF OF CLASS C AIRSPACE. AS ALWAYS, WE WERE USING THE COMMON TA FREQ (CTAF) TO SEPARATE OUR ACFT FROM THE UNCTLED TFC IN THE AREA. BECAUSE I WAS ALSO ALREADY BELOW 2000 FT, AND ZZZ APCH WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SEPARATION FROM THE UNCTLED TFC INSIDE AND BELOW THE 20 NM SHELF, I WAS OBLIGATED TO ACTIVELY USE THE CTAF IN ORDER TO SAFELY PROCEED. IN LIGHT OF OUR URGENT LIFEGUARD MISSION, WE ESTABLISHED 2-WAY RADIO COM WITH ZZZ APCH PRIOR TO ENTERING THE 5 NM INNER RADIUS OF CLASS C AIRSPACE. AFTER ASSIGNING A XPONDER CODE, ZZZ APCH MOMENTARILY PAUSED AS WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONTINUED INBOUND. AFTER ASKING US TO RESTATE OUR POS, ZZZ APCH IMMEDIATELY HANDED US OFF TO ZZZ TWR. ZZZ TWR MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN THE HDOF, BECAUSE THEY WERE CONFUSED AS TO OUR POS AND INTENTIONS ON R DOWNWIND. I THEN REALIZED THAT TFC SATURATION AT THE FIELD WAS TOO HIGH, AND MADE A L TURN TO THE E IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEPART THE TFC. I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO MAKE A R 360 DEG AND HOLD OUR POS. BEFORE BEING ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN, WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO LAND 'SHORT APCH.' I FEEL THE SIT MAY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF: ZZZ APCH INSTRUCTED US TO 'REMAIN CLR OF CLASS C IF TFC SATURATION WAS TOO HIGH.' THE NE 20 NM RADIUS FLOOR IS EXTENDED TO THE SURFACE.

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.