37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Attributes | |
ACN | 907363 |
Time | |
Date | 201009 |
Local Time Of Day | 1801-2400 |
Place | |
Locale Reference | LAX.Airport |
State Reference | CA |
Aircraft 1 | |
Make Model Name | Helicopter |
Flight Phase | Cruise |
Route In Use | None |
Flight Plan | VFR |
Person 1 | |
Function | Other / Unknown |
Qualification | Air Traffic Control Fully Certified |
Events | |
Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types |
Narrative:
While working the helicopter position; a helicopter called over smo at 1;500 ft for the shoreline route south. I offered choice of shoreline route or midfield transition; sepulveda route. The pilot stated that he preferred to use the shoreline and stated that he had all our departure traffic in sight; visual separation. I issued a right turn to the shore and then cleared the aircraft through the bravo airspace via the shoreline route south at or below 150 ft. The pilot read it back then questioned the altitude of 500 ft. I re-stated it had to be below 150 ft. The pilot did not proceed to the shoreline as instructed but headed directly towards the lax VOR. When the helicopter got closer I re-stated the altitude of at or below 150 ft and stated if he was unable to comply then to remain north of the departure corridor. I noticed that the helicopter stopped descending at 1;000 ft and was abeam the departure end of runway 24R so I walked to the corner of the tower to get a better look at the operation; therefore no official coordination took place on the land line but unofficial coordination only. The pilot then stated he was going to clear out to the north because of a departure taking off. But in doing so; the helicopter began a left turn and headed south past runway 24L before correcting back north; roughly 1.5 - 2 miles south of the intended course. While in this turn he began to converge with a B737 departing runway 24L. The B737 then complained about the helicopters close proximity. The helicopter had stated that he had B737 in sight but I did not state to maintain visual separation due to the fact that the pilot had already stated he would do so. This pilot was clearly confused about the operation that he had requested and therefore was unable to comply. To make things worse he did not comply with ATC clearances. When told to turn to the shoreline he did nothing. When told to descend to at or below 150 ft he only descended to 1;000 ft. When told to remain north of the departure corridor he did the exact opposite and turned left into the middle of it causing a very unsafe situation. If this pilot knew the procedures for transitioning the lax class bravo airspace; or if the pilot listened to instructions; this incident would not have happened.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: LAX Controller described a conflict event when a helicopter crossing the airport; north to south; failed to comply with issued instructions and conflicted with a Runway 24L departure.
Narrative: While working the helicopter position; a helicopter called over SMO at 1;500 FT for the Shoreline Route South. I offered choice of Shoreline route or midfield transition; Sepulveda Route. The pilot stated that he preferred to use the Shoreline and stated that he had all our departure traffic in sight; visual separation. I issued a right turn to the shore and then cleared the aircraft through the Bravo airspace via the Shoreline Route South at or below 150 FT. The pilot read it back then questioned the altitude of 500 FT. I re-stated it had to be below 150 FT. The pilot did not proceed to the shoreline as instructed but headed directly towards the LAX VOR. When the helicopter got closer I re-stated the altitude of at or below 150 FT and stated if he was unable to comply then to remain north of the departure corridor. I noticed that the helicopter stopped descending at 1;000 FT and was abeam the departure end of Runway 24R so I walked to the corner of the Tower to get a better look at the operation; therefore no official coordination took place on the land line but unofficial coordination only. The pilot then stated he was going to clear out to the north because of a departure taking off. But in doing so; the helicopter began a left turn and headed south past Runway 24L before correcting back north; roughly 1.5 - 2 miles south of the intended course. While in this turn he began to converge with a B737 departing Runway 24L. The B737 then complained about the helicopters close proximity. The helicopter had stated that he had B737 in sight but I did not state to maintain visual separation due to the fact that the pilot had already stated he would do so. This pilot was clearly confused about the operation that he had requested and therefore was unable to comply. To make things worse he did not comply with ATC clearances. When told to turn to the shoreline he did nothing. When told to descend to at or below 150 FT he only descended to 1;000 FT. When told to remain north of the departure corridor he did the exact opposite and turned left into the middle of it causing a very unsafe situation. If this pilot knew the procedures for transitioning the LAX Class Bravo airspace; or if the pilot listened to instructions; this incident would not have happened.
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.