Helicopter instructor pilot reports near midair collision during approach to runway 26 at mgj. The c...

Narrative:

My student and I were performing and approach to runway 26 at mgj. We were in contact via CTAF with landing traffic using runway 03/21. While on approach I spotted traffic at our altitude off our right side. I immediately took the controls to descend rapidly to avoid the other aircraft. At no point did the aircraft that I had to avoid make a radio call. He then proceeded to execute irregular maneuvers as if trying to enter for either runway 08 or 26 traffic. We finished our approach to the numbers runway 26 and at this point; the traffic whom we had been talking to asked if we could contact the aircraft I had avoided on the CTAF. We could not. Even though runway 26 is right traffic; the aircraft entered left downwind 26; followed by landing on runway 26. I have tried to think of a way to make operations safer at this airport but it seems to me that beyond following established procedures and pilot diligence; there is nothing that can be done except requiring all pilots to use the CTAF. I think that would be a great idea.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Helicopter instructor pilot reports NMAC during approach to Runway 26 at MGJ. The conflicting traffic was not using CTAF procedures and entered left traffic for Runway 26; even though this is published a right traffic runway.

Narrative: My student and I were performing and approach to Runway 26 at MGJ. WE were in contact via CTAF with landing traffic using Runway 03/21. While on approach I spotted traffic at our altitude off our right side. I immediately took the controls to descend rapidly to avoid the other aircraft. At no point did the aircraft that I had to avoid make a radio call. He then proceeded to execute irregular maneuvers as if trying to enter for either Runway 08 or 26 traffic. We finished our approach to the numbers Runway 26 and at this point; the traffic whom we had been talking to asked if we could contact the aircraft I had avoided on the CTAF. We could not. Even though Runway 26 is right traffic; the aircraft entered left downwind 26; followed by landing on Runway 26. I have tried to think of a way to make operations safer at this airport but it seems to me that beyond following established procedures and pilot diligence; there is nothing that can be done except requiring all pilots to use the CTAF. I think that would be a great idea.

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	915443
Time
Date	201010
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	MGJ.Airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach Landing
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	Landing Final Approach
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 38 Flight Crew Total 268 Flight Crew Type 42
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC

Helicopter instructor pilot reports near midair collision during approach to runway 26 at mgj. The conflicting traffic was not using CTAF procedures and entered left traffic for runway 26; even though this is published a right traffic runway.