Narrative:

Inbound to land tlh. Contacted tlh approach control from 17 mi southwest at 500 ft MSL. Tlh was IFR and experiencing heavy volume of IFR traffic. I requested an SVFR to land and was told to expect at least 1 hour delay. Due to fuel considerations. I remained clear of tlh and landed at the governor square mall well clear of general parking area without incident. This situation could have been avoided if the controller understood the unique capabilities of helicopter's and allowed landing clear of active runways. The WX was forecast to improve but actually deteriorated. Considering all factors, I feel not much can be done to avoid this type of event when WX does not do as forecast.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT FLYING AN R44 HELI IS GIVEN A 1 HR DELAY FOR SVFR LNDG AT TLH BECAUSE OF TFC AND IFR WX. PLT LANDED OFF ARPT BECAUSE OF FUEL CONSIDERATIONS.

Narrative: INBOUND TO LAND TLH. CONTACTED TLH APCH CTL FROM 17 MI SW AT 500 FT MSL. TLH WAS IFR AND EXPERIENCING HVY VOLUME OF IFR TFC. I REQUESTED AN SVFR TO LAND AND WAS TOLD TO EXPECT AT LEAST 1 HR DELAY. DUE TO FUEL CONSIDERATIONS. I REMAINED CLR OF TLH AND LANDED AT THE GOVERNOR SQUARE MALL WELL CLR OF GENERAL PARKING AREA WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE CTLR UNDERSTOOD THE UNIQUE CAPABILITIES OF HELI'S AND ALLOWED LNDG CLR OF ACTIVE RWYS. THE WX WAS FORECAST TO IMPROVE BUT ACTUALLY DETERIORATED. CONSIDERING ALL FACTORS, I FEEL NOT MUCH CAN BE DONE TO AVOID THIS TYPE OF EVENT WHEN WX DOES NOT DO AS FORECAST.

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.