PA32 pilot and pilot passenger, and a helicopter had an near midair collision at fdk.

Attributes
ACN	596836
Time
Date	200310
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fdk.airport
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 70 flight time type : 13
ASRS Report	596836
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	596836
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : 2
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was performing touch-and-go pattern work on runway 30 at fdk. I departed fdk. My intentions were announced on unicom at all points from takeoff and then in the pattern. No traffic was observed. After announcing base leg, a helicopter announced that it too was on base. The helicopter could not be observed. A request was made over unicom: 'helicopter, do you see cherokee also on base?' no response. I turned final and again announced our position over unicom. After turning final, helicopter was spotted on left side of aircraft on a parallel course at a lower altitude. Upon observing helicopter, we surrendered the right-of-way, announced that we were breaking right and proceeded to make a sharp right turn until we were clear of the final flight path and then turned upwind and again announced our position on upwind. No further radio broadcasts were heard from the helicopter. My aircraft and helicopter were never on converging courses. Supplemental information from acn 596835: I was in the right seat announcing on the radio while the pilot performed touch-and-go pattern work on runway 30 at fdk.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32 PLT AND PLT PAX, AND A HELI HAD AN NMAC AT FDK.

Narrative: I WAS PERFORMING TOUCH-AND-GO PATTERN WORK ON RWY 30 AT FDK. I DEPARTED FDK. MY INTENTIONS WERE ANNOUNCED ON UNICOM AT ALL POINTS FROM TKOF AND THEN IN THE PATTERN. NO TFC WAS OBSERVED. AFTER ANNOUNCING BASE LEG, A HELI ANNOUNCED THAT IT TOO WAS ON BASE. THE HELI COULD NOT BE OBSERVED. A REQUEST WAS MADE OVER UNICOM: 'HELI, DO YOU SEE CHEROKEE ALSO ON BASE?' NO RESPONSE. I TURNED FINAL AND AGAIN ANNOUNCED OUR POS OVER UNICOM. AFTER TURNING FINAL, HELI WAS SPOTTED ON L SIDE OF ACFT ON A PARALLEL COURSE AT A LOWER ALT. UPON OBSERVING HELI, WE SURRENDERED THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, ANNOUNCED THAT WE WERE BREAKING R AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE A SHARP R TURN UNTIL WE WERE CLR OF THE FINAL FLT PATH AND THEN TURNED UPWIND AND AGAIN ANNOUNCED OUR POS ON UPWIND. NO FURTHER RADIO BROADCASTS WERE HEARD FROM THE HELI. MY ACFT AND HELI WERE NEVER ON CONVERGING COURSES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 596835: I WAS IN THE R SEAT ANNOUNCING ON THE RADIO WHILE THE PLT PERFORMED TOUCH-AND-GO PATTERN WORK ON RWY 30 AT FDK.

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.