Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 1880; Flight Crew Type 3
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport
8 miles south of FNL we contacted the FNL Tower to request a touch and go then a departure to the east after the touch and go. The Tower requested that we contact them for a right downwind for Runway 15 when 4 miles south of the airfield. At the 4 mile mark we were unable to contact the Tower due to the fact the frequency was so busy that each time we tried to contact them we were stepped on. We were midfield right downwind by the time we were able to talk to the Tower. They were very upset yet there was nothing we could have done. We were cleared for the touch and go on Runway 15 then an east departure after that.The Tower requested we let them know when we were 4 miles east of the airport on our departure leg. At the 4 mile mark we contacted the Tower to let the Controller know. At the exact same time there was a helicopter that flew over us at less than 300 feet. We told the Tower we had the traffic insight. We had the helicopter in sight yet the Tower did not inform us about this traffic.FNL is a remote Tower and ATC (Tower) has limited visibility around the airport. My experience with this remote Tower is they do not have the same situational awareness that a full manned Tower would have.
Congested airspace at FNL. Verbal traffic overwhelmed controller and was unable to get word in edgewise. Our comms were being stepped on constantly. Flying with a CFI we were unable to announce our 4 mile location until actually in a 3 mile downwind for Runway 15. Controller was verbally upset; but was still able to sequence us for arrival to complete a touch and go and make an east departure.
Instructor and trainee pilots reported an NMAC during approach to FNL airport. The instructor stated FNL has a remote Tower which reportedly contributed to the event.