EC135
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Rotorcraft; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 5800; Flight Crew Type 300
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Near mid-air collision with crop duster aircraft resulting in deliberate evasive action. On October 2014 I was piloting an EC135 on a familiarization flight transporting two physicians. I had one medical crew member on board who rode in the cabin area as a safety crewman. Preflight; start up; and pre-takeoff checks were uneventful.  Standard radio calls were made to announce the take-off; takeoff location; and intended departure direction. I heard a weak and partially readable call on CTAF announcing 'transiting a taxiway' and something about a 'runway.'  I observed an aircraft that appeared to be taxiing on the north end of the parallel taxiway for that runway.  Wind was light and from the west. Prior to departure; I lifted up and backed off the parking dolly approximately 20 feet; pointed the aircraft on a heading paralleling the taxiway/runway; and smoothly pulled into a 40 feet HOGE to ensure good engines and power before transiting forward and over the perimeter fence.  Once satisfied; I began my transit forward.  I then heard our safety crewman announce visual on an aircraft rolling which I acknowledged.  I heard another radio call about the active runway; which was weak and barely readable.  This was followed by the safety crewman announcing an aircraft was coming up on our right side.  At this point we were just transiting off the edge of our ramp area and about 50-70 feet AGL; at approximately 20-30 KIAS.  As I turned my head to the right; I saw a white pickup truck nearing the runway intersection area; and a yellow crop duster airplane to our 4 o'clock position; exceptionally close and closing; co-altitude and climbing slightly; turning to cross our flight path.  Instinctively; I pushed the collective down; nearly bottoming it; as the crop duster passed directly in front of us at what appeared to be two aircraft lengths and a slightly higher altitude.  I then recovered our aircraft from the evasive maneuver; turned away from the chain link fence; climbed and continued flight.  Aircraft parameters were not exceeded and the passengers displayed no unusual reactions.  The crop duster did not display any observable aircraft attitude changes or flight path alterations.  Despite the winds; the aircraft I observed was on the crosswind runway and not the taxiway.  The CTAF calls I heard were from the ground vehicle and not an aircraft.  Our area familiarization flight lasted only 20 minutes and the pilot of the crop duster chose the downwind runway for several subsequent takeoffs after our return. The crop dusting companies based at this airport; I have been told; do not use radios in their aircraft.  I have never heard one broadcast on the CTAF.  This certainly increases risk factors.  This event was early morning and the sun was rising.  Perhaps this obscured us from the pilot's visual.  The sun-helo-crop duster alignment was close but it was not a factor for our flight.  For a personal introspection; I could have been more diligent in searching for hazards prior to departing.  I'm normally very good at this but today time and opportunity nearly met.  Still; I am curious how a departing airplane can overtake and pass a helicopter still in transitional lift; well clear of the runway; well below 100 feet; and turn to cross the flight path within 2 aircraft lengths; and not see it.
EC135 pilot reported an NMAC with a crop duster on initial lift-off. Reporter stated he felt the crop duster was not complying with appropriate procedures.