MD Helicopter 500/C/D/E/L
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 216; Flight Crew Total 2095; Flight Crew Type 1002
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
I was inbound to ZZZ on the arrival. I requested to land at the South Ramp. I was given landing clearance by Tower via the following radio call; 'Cross [Runway] XXL towards the Tower; then cross Runway XYL and XYR south of Taxiway Foxtrot; then land the South Ramp at my own risk.' This is a common landing procedure for helicopters landing on the South Ramp at ZZZ. Tower informed me there was a helicopter departing from the South Ramp. I was approaching my landing spot on the South Ramp; when I first saw the helicopter on the South Ramp that was departing from ZZZ. I was approaching the departing helicopter from behind; we were both facing the same direction to the east. The departing helicopter was in a low hover; and performed a pedal turn 90 degrees to the left; pointing the nose of the aircraft to the north. I assume this was a pedal turn to make a visual check for arriving aircraft. While the aircraft was turned and facing north; I was flying in front of the nose of the departing aircraft and about 200 feet AGL.As I passed over the top of the departing aircraft; the helicopter made a 90 degree right pedal turn; and began its take off to the east. I tried to contact the departing helicopter over ZZZ Tower frequency. I knew the company the departing helicopter worked for; so I used their company call sign in my radio call. For anonymity; I will replace their call sign with the word 'helicopter.' My first call was 'helicopter I'm directly over the top of you now'. I waited 3-4 seconds and made a second radio call 'helicopter; do you copy?' I did not receive a response. I slowed my forward airspeed to estimated 30 kts; and kept my altitude around 100-150 feet AGL. I kept flying my normal heading to land. I kept my current heading to keep consistent with all arriving aircraft to the South Ramp. I could not perform a go around because had the departing aircraft made an early turnout from the South Ramp to intercept the departure; we would have been on a collision course (This is the most common departure procedure used by helicopters at ZZZ). The departing helicopter passed within 50 feet beneath my helicopter; and continued a normal takeoff. If I had continued my normal approach to land; and not slowed down or maintained a higher than normal approach altitude; I am confident the departing helicopter would have collided with me. Another helicopter coming in to land at the south behind me was forced to do a go-around because of the departing helicopter.
A helicopter pilot reported an NMAC on landing.