A109 pilot reports being vectored inside the FAF 600 feet above GS intercept altitude. The attempt t...

Attributes
ACN	735148
Time
Date	200704
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	A109
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 13l Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 2900
ASRS Report	735148
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly
Independent Detector	atc equipment : msaw other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was repositioning from the hospital roof-top helipad to ZZZ; to hangar the ship in advance of severe WX approaching from the west. During vectors for the ILS; approach control took me through the course; very close to the FAF at 2400 ft MSL; approximately 600 ft above the GS intercept altitude. In an attempt to capture the GS and localizer; while inside the FAF; I began a significant rate of descent of approximately 1000 FPM. I was able to capture the localizer; but descended below the GS which set off the ATC low altitude alert. ATC advised me of the alert and I immediately corrected and captured the GS at approximately 2 mi from the runway. I take the blame for descending below the GS; but there are some contributing factors: the helicopter does not have a 'capture the selected altitude' capability and it won't capture the GS before capturing the localizer; much like most other FMS/flight director/autoplt system. ATC turned me in high and through the course. Helicopters are not high performance jets; I know because I'm a former airline captain; and helicopters don't have significant drag devices to help in these instances. I will watch out for the development of situations like this in the future; but ATC needs to realize that not every aircraft they are handling is a commercial airliner.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A109 PILOT REPORTS BEING VECTORED INSIDE THE FAF 600 FEET ABOVE GS INTERCEPT ALTITUDE. THE ATTEMPT TO SALVAGE THE APPROACH RESULTS IN GOING BELOW THE GS AND SETTING OFF THE CONTROLLER'S MSAW BEFORE FINALLY CAPTURING THE GS AT 2 NM.

Narrative: I WAS REPOSITIONING FROM THE HOSPITAL ROOF-TOP HELIPAD TO ZZZ; TO HANGAR THE SHIP IN ADVANCE OF SEVERE WX APCHING FROM THE W. DURING VECTORS FOR THE ILS; APCH CTL TOOK ME THROUGH THE COURSE; VERY CLOSE TO THE FAF AT 2400 FT MSL; APPROX 600 FT ABOVE THE GS INTERCEPT ALT. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE THE GS AND LOC; WHILE INSIDE THE FAF; I BEGAN A SIGNIFICANT RATE OF DSCNT OF APPROX 1000 FPM. I WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE THE LOC; BUT DSNDED BELOW THE GS WHICH SET OFF THE ATC LOW ALT ALERT. ATC ADVISED ME OF THE ALERT AND I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED AND CAPTURED THE GS AT APPROX 2 MI FROM THE RWY. I TAKE THE BLAME FOR DSNDING BELOW THE GS; BUT THERE ARE SOME CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: THE HELI DOES NOT HAVE A 'CAPTURE THE SELECTED ALT' CAPABILITY AND IT WON'T CAPTURE THE GS BEFORE CAPTURING THE LOC; MUCH LIKE MOST OTHER FMS/FLT DIRECTOR/AUTOPLT SYS. ATC TURNED ME IN HIGH AND THROUGH THE COURSE. HELIS ARE NOT HIGH PERFORMANCE JETS; I KNOW BECAUSE I'M A FORMER AIRLINE CAPT; AND HELIS DON'T HAVE SIGNIFICANT DRAG DEVICES TO HELP IN THESE INSTANCES. I WILL WATCH OUT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SITUATIONS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE; BUT ATC NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT NOT EVERY ACFT THEY ARE HANDLING IS A COMMERCIAL AIRLINER.

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.

A109 pilot reports being vectored inside the FAF 600 feet above GS intercept altitude. The attempt to salvage the approach results in going below the GS and setting off the controller's MSAW before finally capturing the GS at 2 NM.