Narrative:

I was flying a helicopter owned by government law enforcement in the vicinity of restricted area R-6316 for a homeland security mission. I was utilizing a panel installed garmin GNS 430 (update expiration in 9 days) as guidance to approach and remain outside of R-6316. After approximately 30 minutes of flying a racetrack pattern near the east side of the restricted area; I contacted my dispatch and instructed them to call the operations center in order to request authorization for my aircraft to enter R-6316 so that I could continue my mission. Dispatch told me that authorization was denied. I acknowledged the denial and remained outside of the restricted area. Approximately 10 minutes later; dispatch informed me that [operations] had called back and wanted to let me know that I was currently inside the boundary of R-6316 and that I needed to 'get out.' I verified my position on the GNS 430; then informed dispatch to tell [them] that my instruments were showing that I was not within the boundary of R-6316. The reply was that I needed to stay out of the restricted area and that 'they were watching me' (assuming they meant that they could see my position on radar since I was squawking a discrete transponder code). I reiterated to dispatch that my GPS was showing that the aircraft never went inside the boundary line of R-6316. Dispatch replied 'roger'. I continued my racetrack pattern for approximately 5 more minutes; then departed the area. During this mission; I paid very close attention to my GNS 430 and ensured that I never flew within the boundary of R-6316. I also visually verified my position by observing the aerostat mooring tower and keeping the required 2.5 mile radius distance.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A law enforcement helicopter pilot on a Homeland Security mission is informed that he is inside R-6316. However; he is using a Garmin 430 to avoid the airspace.

Narrative: I was flying a helicopter owned by government law enforcement in the vicinity of restricted area R-6316 for a Homeland Security mission. I was utilizing a panel installed Garmin GNS 430 (update expiration in 9 days) as guidance to approach and remain outside of R-6316. After approximately 30 minutes of flying a racetrack pattern near the east side of the restricted area; I contacted my dispatch and instructed them to call the Operations Center in order to request authorization for my aircraft to enter R-6316 so that I could continue my mission. Dispatch told me that authorization was denied. I acknowledged the denial and remained outside of the restricted area. Approximately 10 minutes later; dispatch informed me that [Operations] had called back and wanted to let me know that I was currently inside the boundary of R-6316 and that I needed to 'get out.' I verified my position on the GNS 430; then informed dispatch to tell [them] that my instruments were showing that I was not within the boundary of R-6316. The reply was that I needed to stay out of the restricted area and that 'they were watching me' (assuming they meant that they could see my position on radar since I was squawking a discrete transponder code). I reiterated to dispatch that my GPS was showing that the aircraft never went inside the boundary line of R-6316. Dispatch replied 'roger'. I continued my racetrack pattern for approximately 5 more minutes; then departed the area. During this mission; I paid very close attention to my GNS 430 and ensured that I never flew within the boundary of R-6316. I also visually verified my position by observing the aerostat mooring tower and keeping the required 2.5 mile radius distance.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.