A helicopter instructor pilot reported a near midair collision with an aircraft transiting the ecg t...

Narrative:

While conducting a captain upgrade check flight; we experienced a near mid-air. We had been cleared for the option using runway 28 at ecg and had just completed a simulated single engine emergency. After takeoff and while turning left cross wind; the trainee pilot was the pilot flying (right seat) and I (instructor pilot) had just turned (left seat) to hang the checklist on the overhead hook when I heard an anonymous call over the radio; 'helicopter do you have me?' as I turned my body from right to left; I then heard the TCAS alert 'traffic traffic' and saw through my chin bubble a small aircraft approximately 100-200 ft below us (level); on a converging course rocking its wings. I acknowledged the other aircraft while pulling up on the collective and instructing; 'climb! Fixed wing traffic directly beneath us 100 ft.' I then contacted tower; informed the controller that I had fixed wing traffic in the pattern about 100 ft beneath us and I asked the tower controller if ATC was in contact with the fixed wing. Tower replied that in fact the controller been in contact with the aircraft and ATC had informed me of it. I queried my crew; no one heard any such call from tower. I briefly discussed the situation with my crew on downwind and we were comfortable with the situation as being resolved for the moment. We completed the syllabus which required one additional turn in the pattern consisting of a practice autorotation. I would say the controller was quite busy with the two students in the pattern creating a considerable workload. Notwithstanding; I don't think it was safe for the crop duster to pass through the traffic pattern on a converging course over the approach end of the runway. I never heard a call from the tower advising us of the crop duster traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A helicopter Instructor Pilot reported a NMAC with an aircraft transiting the ECG traffic pattern. The flight crew did not hear the ATC traffic alert supposedly issued earlier.

Narrative: While conducting a Captain upgrade check flight; we experienced a near mid-air. We had been cleared for the option using Runway 28 at ECG and had just completed a simulated single engine emergency. After takeoff and while turning left cross wind; the trainee pilot was the pilot flying (right seat) and I (Instructor pilot) had just turned (left seat) to hang the checklist on the overhead hook when I heard an anonymous call over the radio; 'helicopter do you have me?' As I turned my body from right to left; I then heard the TCAS alert 'Traffic Traffic' and saw through my chin bubble a small aircraft approximately 100-200 FT below us (level); on a converging course rocking its wings. I acknowledged the other aircraft while pulling up on the collective and instructing; 'climb! Fixed wing traffic directly beneath us 100 FT.' I then contacted Tower; informed the Controller that I had fixed wing traffic in the pattern about 100 FT beneath us and I asked the Tower Controller if ATC was in contact with the fixed wing. Tower replied that in fact the Controller been in contact with the aircraft and ATC had informed me of it. I queried my crew; no one heard any such call from Tower. I briefly discussed the situation with my crew on downwind and we were comfortable with the situation as being resolved for the moment. We completed the syllabus which required one additional turn in the pattern consisting of a practice autorotation. I would say the Controller was quite busy with the two students in the pattern creating a considerable workload. Notwithstanding; I don't think it was safe for the crop duster to pass through the traffic pattern on a converging course over the approach end of the runway. I never heard a call from the Tower advising us of the crop duster traffic.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	887548
Time
Date	201005
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ECG.Airport
State Reference	NC
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	Cruise
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 46.9 Flight Crew Total 3600 Flight Crew Type 2598
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Miss Distance	Vertical 100

A helicopter instructor pilot reported a near midair collision with an aircraft transiting the ecg traffic pattern. The flight crew did not hear the ATC traffic alert supposedly issued earlier.