Helicopter First Officer reports inoperative obstruction and windsock lighting at JRA Heliport; with no NOTAMs issued.

Date: 2011-12 · Aircraft: Bell Helicopter Textron Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: approach

Anomalies: other-airport-lighting

Synopsis

Helicopter First Officer reports inoperative obstruction and windsock lighting at JRA Heliport; with no NOTAMs issued.

Narrative

Ongoing safety and regulatory hazard at JRA heliport in Manhattan; NYC:1) windsock lighting inoperative for weeks; not NOTAM'd nor repaired as of [report date]2) wind azimuth reporting equipment; or at least the line service personnel's broadcast of same over the CTAF; is typically in error by 60 to 100 degrees3) heliport obstruction lighting inoperative for at least two weeks; not NOTAM'd nor repaired as of report date. This is a safety hazard since pilots could mistakenly make a downwind approach to land; and not know it visually until the last moments when the windsock becomes visible at short range; or not be able to recover from settling with power and contact the pier surface somewhere other than the intended point of landing. Although reported over the air to heliport personnel; and in person verbally; no repair has been made to the azimuth reporting. This is a regulatory hazard for Part 135 operators; who require a lighted wind indicator for ops in darkness. Such operators would not know of the condition until arriving with passengers or taking off with them; essentially forcing them to violate the rules since they were not aware from NOTAM's that the lights are inoperative. Hazard reported to company a week ago; Dir of Operations promised to contact heliport but no further information has been provided on the situation; no NOTAM has appeared; and the lights are still inoperative. Fuel tank and perhaps other obstruction lights are not working and not NOTAM'd.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.