S-70/UH-60 Blackhawk/Seahawk/Pavehawk/Knighthawk
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 5
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Airspace Structure; Company Policy; Procedure; Human Factors
An IFR H60; was released from a military air station. The aircraft departed with a malfunctioning mode-c transponder. I instructed the army helicopter to ident. The pilot verbally acknowledged. As the pilot was climbing out on the departure two VFR aircraft were approaching his flight path. I could not radar identify the army helicopter or verify the pilots altitude. The pilot attempted to recycle the transponder several times before I issued traffic on the immediate concerning aircraft at his 12 o'clock and 1 mile. I instructed the aircraft to fly west at that time; which would have appeared to avoid conflict from the first VFR aircraft. I then requested his alititude. The pilot responded three thousand two hundred. The MVA (Minimum Vectoring Altitude) in his area was three thousand two hundred. The highest depicted obstacle was one thousand eight hundred. There was no loss of separation. However; I was suspected of vectoring below the MVA by a nearby supervisor. The pilot requested to return to base VFR under his own navigation. I should have requested his altitude before turning the army helicopter. Altitude seperation should have been the primary attempt for the IFR helicopters saftey. Radar identification should always be established before control instructions.
TRACON Controller reported the Supervisor suspected them of turning an aircraft below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude.