Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 112; Flight Crew Total 10905; Flight Crew Type 434
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
On date; flying for a news station while in a left orbit at 800 feet on the scene of an accident for approximately 10 minutes (no other aircraft in the area); I observed an EMS helicopter identified by Aircraft Y coming head on with me. I immediately descended and banked left due to already in the left orbit to avoid a head on collision. It appeared that the EMS helicopter didn't see me until I was about a 50 degree angle from them. I did notice that they did execute a left hand bank but this was after we had already passed each other. I was monitoring ZZZ Tower frequency and air to air at the time. Before the close call at no time did I hear the EMS helicopter make any radio calls pertaining to approaching the scene. Immediately after this; the EMS helicopter pilot told me to leave the area to which I stated to him negative and that he needed to make radio calls when he is in route to and approaching a scene (due to other aircraft (Law Enforcement; ENG; other EMS aircraft) possibly being in the area). During a further investigation I acquired information pertaining to the EMS helicopter Aircraft Y. The information shown at this time it was being operated by: Company 1 but owned by Company 2. I feel that better radio calls/communications would avoid future issues.
Pilot flying news helicopter reports near mid air collision with Emergency Medical Services helicopter.