Vr bell helicopter experiences conflict with float plane in lft tower class C.

Attributes
ACN	594621
Time
Date	200309
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lft.airport
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl single value : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lft.tower
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	Bell 47
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : lft.tower
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	594621
Person 2
Function	oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 9000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

Company X and the lafayette class C have a LOA. I contacted lft tower prior to reaching the brossard overpass (highway 90 and highway 182). Told to report point bravo and notified of fixed wing traffic. Made visual contact at that time. Just prior to point bravo, tower controller started issuing an IFR clearance to aircraft on ramp. Note: point bravo 1 1/2-2 NM from airport. I reported point bravo, had aircraft at my 9 O'clock position (west) about 2 NM from me, setting up for right base runway 4L. As he made turn to final, I crossed approach end of runway 4L. At 1 1/2-2 NM separation, fixed wing aircraft said over tower frequency 'that was close.' surprised he got that in. Another helicopter had been calling tower to enter control zone. After talking to tower, supervisor found that 1 controller working radar, 1 working tower, ground, clear delivery, and talking to emergency radio checks. Normal operations are not normally that busy during the 0730 hour. Corrective action on my part, hold at point bravo when events are overtaking the situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VR BELL HELI EXPERIENCES CONFLICT WITH FLOAT PLANE IN LFT TWR CLASS C.

Narrative: COMPANY X AND THE LAFAYETTE CLASS C HAVE A LOA. I CONTACTED LFT TWR PRIOR TO REACHING THE BROSSARD OVERPASS (HWY 90 AND HWY 182). TOLD TO RPT POINT BRAVO AND NOTIFIED OF FIXED WING TFC. MADE VISUAL CONTACT AT THAT TIME. JUST PRIOR TO POINT BRAVO, TWR CTLR STARTED ISSUING AN IFR CLRNC TO ACFT ON RAMP. NOTE: POINT BRAVO 1 1/2-2 NM FROM ARPT. I RPTED POINT BRAVO, HAD ACFT AT MY 9 O'CLOCK POS (W) ABOUT 2 NM FROM ME, SETTING UP FOR R BASE RWY 4L. AS HE MADE TURN TO FINAL, I CROSSED APCH END OF RWY 4L. AT 1 1/2-2 NM SEPARATION, FIXED WING ACFT SAID OVER TWR FREQ 'THAT WAS CLOSE.' SURPRISED HE GOT THAT IN. ANOTHER HELI HAD BEEN CALLING TWR TO ENTER CTL ZONE. AFTER TALKING TO TWR, SUPVR FOUND THAT 1 CTLR WORKING RADAR, 1 WORKING TWR, GND, CLR DELIVERY, AND TALKING TO EMER RADIO CHKS. NORMAL OPS ARE NOT NORMALLY THAT BUSY DURING THE 0730 HR. CORRECTIVE ACTION ON MY PART, HOLD AT POINT BRAVO WHEN EVENTS ARE OVERTAKING THE SIT.

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.