SK76 pilot lands helicopter on taxiway rather than crowded ramp as cleared.

Attributes
ACN	616587
Time
Date	200406
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : teb.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : teb.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	S-76/S-76 Mark II
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : taxi landing other
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 10600 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	616587
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Tower cleared us to land on the ramp, which was full of business jets and helicopter's either parked or being towed. The tower frequency was very congested and as we approached the ramp area, we decided for both safety, and so as not to damage other aircraft to land on taxiway C next to the ramp and taxi into the ramp area for parking. We are a medium lift helicopter that puts out considerable rotor wash upon landing. When we asked to contact ground control to get taxi clearance, tower asked us where we were. We responded we were on taxiway C. He stated he didn't approve us landing there and to telephone the tower. The tower chief understood our predicament and stated no further action was to take place. The airport diagram shows a helipad triangle over the ramp and taxiway extension. There is no helicopter markings on this ramp.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SK76 PLT LANDS HELI ON TXWY RATHER THAN CROWDED RAMP AS CLRED.

Narrative: TWR CLEARED US TO LAND ON THE RAMP, WHICH WAS FULL OF BUSINESS JETS AND HELI'S EITHER PARKED OR BEING TOWED. THE TWR FREQUENCY WAS VERY CONGESTED AND AS WE APCHED THE RAMP AREA, WE DECIDED FOR BOTH SAFETY, AND SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE OTHER ACFT TO LAND ON TXWY C NEXT TO THE RAMP AND TAXI INTO THE RAMP AREA FOR PARKING. WE ARE A MEDIUM LIFT HELI THAT PUTS OUT CONSIDERABLE ROTOR WASH UPON LANDING. WHEN WE ASKED TO CONTACT GND CTL TO GET TAXI CLRNC, TWR ASKED US WHERE WE WERE. WE RESPONDED WE WERE ON TXWY C. HE STATED HE DIDN'T APPROVE US LNDG THERE AND TO TELEPHONE THE TWR. THE TWR CHIEF UNDERSTOOD OUR PREDICAMENT AND STATED NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TO TAKE PLACE. THE ARPT DIAGRAM SHOWS A HELIPAD TRIANGLE OVER THE RAMP AND TXWY EXTENSION. THERE IS NO HELI MARKINGS ON THIS RAMP.

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.