Cessna 152
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 1400; Flight Crew Type 500
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Procedure; Human Factors
I was in cruise flight at 2;000 FT MSL northwest bound along Highway 71 at 4 NM west of Chino Airport. I was on an approved transition through Chino's Class D airspace. A departing twin turbine helicopter departed Chino airport and was provided with my position; altitude; and direction of flight. I spotted the helicopter as it rapidly accelerated and climbed directly toward my aircraft. As I evaluated the helicopter's flight path (it looked like it was still accelerating and climbing toward me); I began a turn to maneuver away from the helicopter when it turned to the north and then I lost sight of it. I scanned from right to left when I saw the helicopter passing just beneath me to my left side. The helicopter continued its climb. It is bewildering why the helicopter which has the ability to hover and is unconstrained by minimum altitudes required of airplanes would continue to accelerate and climb toward called out traffic. In my opinion; the helicopter should have slowed down and maintained 1;500 FT MSL until positively identifying my aircraft or crossing the highway. The helicopter has excellent visibility both above and below with a windscreen that extends from the pilot's feet to over their head. With such excellent visibility; climbing up and toward a blue sky; the pilot should have been in an excellent position to spot my aircraft without getting so close. They should have slowed down and leveled off to mitigate collision hazard and lower flight risk. Most general aviation airplanes have fairly poor visibility especially to the right side from the left seat; the pilot's perspective is limited. In addition; when a pilot is looking down; as I was; it is easy to lose traffic targets as those targets can easily blend into the industrial landscape. Further; while the regulations do not specify helicopters in the right away rules; practice is that more maneuverable aircraft gives the right-of-way to the less maneuverable aircraft.
Cessna 152 pilot transiting CNO airspace reported an NMAC with a helicopter climbing out of CNO. Reporter contends that more maneuverable helicopter should have maintained separation from the reported Cessna traffic.