Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 1458; Flight Crew Type 1400
Confusion
Conflict NMAC
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
This was a typical VFR approach to my home airport. I was in contact with the tower who called two aircraft targets for me. Both were within class delta; one for Renton and the other for Boeing field. I thought I saw the first and confirmed. Then I saw the second one and reported that I had identified it as the first one. There was no follow up on the target that was heading directly at me until I reported that a yellow helicopter had just passed immediately below me as I was over the east channel bridge. The tower confirmed that was the traffic they had called to me. It was seen by my passenger and had just emerged from the Boeing [Field] class delta at approximately my 2 o'clock. This bridge is just outside the junction of Boeing and Renton class delta's. I don't fault the tower controller as I had initially confirmed that I had that airplane in sight; however; in my 15 years of flying into that airport; I have never come that close to another aircraft. The helicopter coming out of Boeings airspace was not in contact with Renton or with me and I think that is a problem with the vfr pathways in that area. The mercer island vfr departure from Boeing field often takes aircraft very close to the vfr approach to a south landing at Renton. The crossing point is the east channel bridge (I-90 east of Mercer Island).
C182 pilot experienced a NMAC during a VFR arrival to RNT over the East Channel Bridge. The R44 traffic was departing BFI and was pointed out by RNT Tower; but not detected visually until it was too late to take evasive action.