Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 2340; Flight Crew Type 1300
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
I was cleared to land on Runway 29R and was approaching the north traffic pattern for that runway on a standard 45 degree entry at 1;200 FT descending to pattern altitude (1;100 FT). Tower advised of northbound helicopter traffic 'restricted below 800 FT.' Just as I was beginning my left turn to downwind; I glimpsed the helicopter for just a second as it passed close beneath my left wing. There was no time for evasion. Had I initiated my turn one second earlier; there likely would have been a collision.I reported the incident on Ground Control. The Controller told me that the city's noise abatement personnel; responding t0 a few homeowners who are annoyed by helicopters flying over their homes; have been using letters and 'tickets' to intimidate helicopter pilots into flying at higher altitudes. The Tower simply responds to the helicopter pilots' requests. He also agreed that it may take one or more fatal mid-air collisions to halt this intimidation.I am aware of a number of other similar conflicts with helicopter traffic over the past year that required evasive action on the part of at least one of the pilots.The elimination of altitude separation around the airport is very dangerous and should cease. Intimidation of the pilots by city personnel is a violation of FAR 91.11 and should cease.
A pilot on initial approach to TOA Runway 29R had a near miss at 1;100 FT after a helicopter pilot deviated from his 800 FT altitude constraint because of intimidation by city personnel about neighborhood noise complaints.