Date: 201502
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Tower, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Helicopter
Operator: Air Taxi
Operating under: Part 135
Flight plan: VFR
Mission: Ambulance
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: TFR ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Taxi
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Airspace Structure; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: I was tasked to fly a team/patient from; [city] to [a] Hospital. At the time; a TFR (XYZ) was in effect that included the airspace for arrival Hospital. As per the TFR instructions; I attempted to contact the TFR controlling agency via landline prior to departing. After four attempts of which the line was busy each time; I contacted [company name removed] for assistance. The dispatcher said that he was unable to assist as this is a pilot duty. I then tried the telephone number again and it was still busy. I then contacted Flight Service for their assistance. I explained my situation to the dispatcher and he then put me on hold so he could contact the ZZZ Tower directly. After speaking with the ZZZ Tower; the Flight Service Dispatcher relayed to me that the tower said for me to proceed inbound and to contact them at which time they would give me a discreet code. This is the standard procedure for arriving EMS flights. I then departed and prior to the VFR reporting point southeast of ZZZ I started to contact the ZZZ Tower. While contacting the tower; a military jet passed in front of me then departed back in the direction of the TFR center. The tower gave me a code; said I was radar contact and instructed me to fly the 'East Transition' then direct to the destination. They wanted me to fly the East Transition as this would keep me clear of the TFR center. Approximately 4 minutes from landing; the tower gave me instructions (telephone number) to call them after landing for a 'possible deviation'. After landing; I contacted the tower and explained what happened on my end and what my instructions were from FSS (as they were instructed from the ZZZ Tower). I also called the FSS supervisor to bring him in the loop as to what occurred. I contacted my operations to give him a heads up as to what occurred.I've run this scenario through my head a hundred times trying to figure out what I could have [done]differently. If there was an airspace issue; I would've have thought the tower controller would have queried me at initial contact if I had made telephone contact with the TFR airspace coordinator prior to departing; not after clearing me into the airspace then telling me four minutes out from landing. I keep coming back to that I was following the directions from the FSS dispatcher who got his instructions from the tower. I also ran this scenario by my lead pilot and he would have followed the same course of action. The one area that could have alleviated this issue is that I could have spoken to the tower directly; but then again; hindsight is always 20/20. Also; a more prudent call would've been to contact the [name removed] instead of [company name removed] for potential guidance.




Synopsis: A pilot calls the correct phone number to attain clearance through a TFR prior to departing. Pilot calls FSS who in turn calls Tower. Pilot gets the ok to fly into TFR relayed by Tower through FSS. While pilot is flying in TFR airspace; a military aircraft passes in front of the aircraft. Pilot receives beacon code and lands at destination in TFR airspace. Pilot is given the Tower number to call for possible pilot deviation.