Jet/Long Ranger/206
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 22000; Flight Crew Type 6000
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors
This was a training flight. I was acting as CFII; IP; the pilot flying was under the hood. We were executing the GPS/RNAV 18 at DTO. At 5 mile final; I was handed off to Tower. DTO Tower cleared me to land. Tower advised me of traffic on the downwind leg and asked if I had the [aircraft] in sight. I replied 'I have the Cessna on downwind in sight.' Tower turned the Cessna; which was higher in altitude; in front of me on his base leg. I lost sight of the Cessna in the clutter.This put my helicopter and the Cessna on a collision course. At about 1;000 FT AGL and 1 mile from the runway; I had to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The closure rate was approximately 100 KTS. When the two [aircraft] were approximately 1;000 FT apart I rapidly decelerated the helicopter to 25 KTS allowing the Cessna to complete his turn to final in front of me. The aircraft separation was about 300 FT. At this same time that I was taking evasive maneuvers the Tower instructed me to break off the approach and sidestep to the East. Tower instructions were too late to avoid a collision.
BH 206 instructor pilot reported NMAC with a light aircraft in the pattern at DTO.