C525 on visual approach to mhk is questioned by ATC for making 360 degree turn.

Attributes
ACN	594935
Time
Date	200309
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mhk.airport
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	Citationjet, C525/C526
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	594935
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

This was a short repositioning leg to pick up passenger. My copilot was flying this leg and receiving instruction from myself. We picked up the current WX at manhattan and were told to expect the visual approach to runway 3. We were coming in from the southwest. We were told that we could expect to be held at 5000 ft due to traffic. We slowed down and planned accordingly. We were at 2-3 DME from mhk (mhk -- on field) still at 5000 ft, when we were cleared for the visual to runway 3. There is a restr area north and west of the airport. I told my copilot to do a right 360 degree to lose some altitude and re-enter on a right base to runway 3. Halfway through the turn center called and said to increase rate of descent (we did) and that he did not authorize a 360 degree, also to contact the tower. I was under the assumption that when cleared for a visual that there are no 'guidelines' that need to be followed on the approach. I don't know if I violated any rule, but I want to be sure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C525 ON VISUAL APCH TO MHK IS QUESTIONED BY ATC FOR MAKING 360 DEG TURN.

Narrative: THIS WAS A SHORT REPOSITIONING LEG TO PICK UP PAX. MY COPLT WAS FLYING THIS LEG AND RECEIVING INSTRUCTION FROM MYSELF. WE PICKED UP THE CURRENT WX AT MANHATTAN AND WERE TOLD TO EXPECT THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 3. WE WERE COMING IN FROM THE SW. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE COULD EXPECT TO BE HELD AT 5000 FT DUE TO TFC. WE SLOWED DOWN AND PLANNED ACCORDINGLY. WE WERE AT 2-3 DME FROM MHK (MHK -- ON FIELD) STILL AT 5000 FT, WHEN WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 3. THERE IS A RESTR AREA N AND W OF THE ARPT. I TOLD MY COPLT TO DO A R 360 DEG TO LOSE SOME ALT AND RE-ENTER ON A R BASE TO RWY 3. HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN CTR CALLED AND SAID TO INCREASE RATE OF DSCNT (WE DID) AND THAT HE DID NOT AUTHORIZE A 360 DEG, ALSO TO CONTACT THE TWR. I WAS UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT WHEN CLRED FOR A VISUAL THAT THERE ARE NO 'GUIDELINES' THAT NEED TO BE FOLLOWED ON THE APCH. I DON'T KNOW IF I VIOLATED ANY RULE, BUT I WANT TO BE SURE.

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.