Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 7; Flight Crew Total 184; Flight Crew Type 100
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Airport
Entering left downwind on the 45 degree for Runway 18 I heard a helicopter radio call using Runway 18 in right pattern. Mid downwind I heard a Cessna on long final Runway 18. Late downwind stabilized in pattern configuration; I spotted the landing Cessna on late final. A few seconds later spotted helicopter on right base for Runway 18 with proper radio calls. I made my radio calls entering the 45; stabilized on left downwind Runway 18 and late downwind Runway 18. Just after the Cessna touched down I heard a Cherokee radio call entering Runway 18 for takeoff. I announced turning left base Runway 18 when I saw the Cherokee takeoff. At this point the helicopter looked like it was going to land on Runway 18 as announced. When I turned final the helicopter looked like it was still hovering a little left of the runway and above my altitude. I was preparing for a go around; but was not sure of the helicopter's intentions as I didn't hear any further radio calls after the right base call and didn't want to conflict in his flight path. I radioed asking 'helicopter are you landing'? By now my airplane was much lower than the helicopter and a second voice immediately replied they were doing a go around. He safely and in a timely manner executed a go around and I completed a normal landing. The helicopter radioed me asking for my tail number which I gave; but failed to get his tail number as I expected him to come talk to me while I waited for him on the ramp about the incident. I was expecting an 18 landing for a helicopter to be on the 18 end of the taxiway as is the normal procedure [at nearby airports].
Small aircraft pilot reported operations at uncontrolled field resulted in a near miss between a fixed wing and rotor aircraft.