C172 and helicopter experience near midair collision near N72.

Attributes
ACN	630398
Time
Date	200409
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : n72.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl single value : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1400 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	630398
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Miss Distance	horizontal : 300 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was approaching N72 in the C172. I announced I was approaching 5 mi out. I then saw and heard a helicopter announce he was doing maneuvers 3 mi southeast of airport. I diverted left and descended to 1700 ft. The helicopter then saw me and asked whether I had seen him and I acknowledged seeing him. He then accused me of not attempting to avoid him and causing a 'near miss.' I was personally never concerned and did not think it was a near miss. When I told the other pilot I did not think he should be doing maneuvers within 3 mi of an airport. He countered 'how far away should I be?' I said I thought he should be 5 mi away. Although I never felt there was a problem the helicopter pilot thought we were within 100 ft and that it was a genuine 'near miss.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 AND HELI EXPERIENCE NMAC NEAR N72.

Narrative: I WAS APCHING N72 IN THE C172. I ANNOUNCED I WAS APCHING 5 MI OUT. I THEN SAW AND HEARD A HELI ANNOUNCE HE WAS DOING MANEUVERS 3 MI SE OF ARPT. I DIVERTED L AND DSNDED TO 1700 FT. THE HELI THEN SAW ME AND ASKED WHETHER I HAD SEEN HIM AND I ACKNOWLEDGED SEEING HIM. HE THEN ACCUSED ME OF NOT ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HIM AND CAUSING A 'NEAR MISS.' I WAS PERSONALLY NEVER CONCERNED AND DID NOT THINK IT WAS A NEAR MISS. WHEN I TOLD THE OTHER PLT I DID NOT THINK HE SHOULD BE DOING MANEUVERS WITHIN 3 MI OF AN ARPT. HE COUNTERED 'HOW FAR AWAY SHOULD I BE?' I SAID I THOUGHT HE SHOULD BE 5 MI AWAY. ALTHOUGH I NEVER FELT THERE WAS A PROB THE HELI PLT THOUGHT WE WERE WITHIN 100 FT AND THAT IT WAS A GENUINE 'NEAR MISS.'

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.