Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 5900; Flight Crew Type 2350
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
While taxiing into the hangar area on Taxiway B I came close to a helicopter approaching to land. He was approaching from my right and the landing spot was also to my right adjacent to the taxiway. I did not see him immediately as my view to my upper right is blocked by the sun-shield on my canopy. When I first saw him he was at my 2 o'clock at a low altitude as he was executing a go-around. I stopped immediately until he had passed in front of me. Then I proceeded and turned right two hangar rows passed the conflict point and as I exited that hangar row headed for my hangar row; I saw him making another approach in front of me. I immediately stopped to let him land. He saw me and hovered for a moment to make sure I was going to stay stopped. The normal procedure at this airport is: I am cleared to the ramp by the Tower and told to monitor the ground frequency which I was doing. The helicopters are cleared to land by the Tower at their own risk. If he is cleared to land after I switch from the Tower frequency to Ground; I will not hear that transmission. That was the case here; I assume; as I never heard him cleared to land. Since we are on different frequencies it makes for potentially dangerous situation. I have talked to the Tower about this previously but got no response.
Small aircraft pilot reported a conflict with a helicopter while taxiing in the ramp area at FFZ airport.