Narrative:

I was the aircraft commander of an hh-65C helicopter. I filed an IFR flight plan from ZZZ2 to ocala international/jim taylor field (ocf). I was assigned 6000 ft; V157 airway. Overhead lakeland VOR (lal) I diverted attention from outside aircraft to inside to tune a new course for airway and waypoint information; for an airway course change. At this time I noticed a TCAS hit for a target directly head-on. I informed the copilot I had a TCAS hit directly ahead. Copilot said he had departing traffic off of lakeland linder. ATC had not given any advisory that we had traffic at our altitude. At this time our TCAS gave a warning of traffic. We now had a warning and altitude information that the TCAS target was at our altitude. My copilot; flight mechanic; and myself then acquired the traffic visually. My copilot stated the following: I was focused initially on bizjet taking off from lakeland. When flight manager said he had traffic; I assumed he saw that same jet coming around (not a factor at all; as he was way lower). Then I saw the low-wing propeller at our altitude from the opposite direction. I recall making a right turn to ensure traffic avoidance. I don't believe he came closer than 400-500 ft. The other aircraft was at our same altitude (6000 ft MSL). We were under positive control; IFR flight plan; and on our assigned altitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HH65 FLT CREW REPORTS TCAS EVENT OVER LAL AT 6000 FEET WITH A MOTORIZED GLIDER.

Narrative: I WAS THE ACFT COMMANDER OF AN HH-65C HELI. I FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM ZZZ2 TO OCALA INTL/JIM TAYLOR FIELD (OCF). I WAS ASSIGNED 6000 FT; V157 AIRWAY. OVERHEAD LAKELAND VOR (LAL) I DIVERTED ATTN FROM OUTSIDE ACFT TO INSIDE TO TUNE A NEW COURSE FOR AIRWAY AND WAYPOINT INFO; FOR AN AIRWAY COURSE CHANGE. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED A TCAS HIT FOR A TARGET DIRECTLY HEAD-ON. I INFORMED THE COPLT I HAD A TCAS HIT DIRECTLY AHEAD. COPLT SAID HE HAD DEPARTING TFC OFF OF LAKELAND LINDER. ATC HAD NOT GIVEN ANY ADVISORY THAT WE HAD TFC AT OUR ALT. AT THIS TIME OUR TCAS GAVE A WARNING OF TFC. WE NOW HAD A WARNING AND ALT INFO THAT THE TCAS TARGET WAS AT OUR ALT. MY COPLT; FLT MECH; AND MYSELF THEN ACQUIRED THE TFC VISUALLY. MY COPLT STATED THE FOLLOWING: I WAS FOCUSED INITIALLY ON BIZJET TAKING OFF FROM LAKELAND. WHEN FLT MGR SAID HE HAD TFC; I ASSUMED HE SAW THAT SAME JET COMING AROUND (NOT A FACTOR AT ALL; AS HE WAS WAY LOWER). THEN I SAW THE LOW-WING PROP AT OUR ALT FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I RECALL MAKING A R TURN TO ENSURE TFC AVOIDANCE. I DON'T BELIEVE HE CAME CLOSER THAN 400-500 FT. THE OTHER ACFT WAS AT OUR SAME ALT (6000 FT MSL). WE WERE UNDER POSITIVE CTL; IFR FLT PLAN; AND ON OUR ASSIGNED ALT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.