Formation flight photo mission descends below designated altitude at statue of liberty.

Attributes
ACN	191538
Time
Date	199110
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 200 msl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 14700 flight time type : 11000
ASRS Report	191538
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This flight was a prearranged photo flight of the statue of liberty. 3 aircraft were flying at tight formation around the statue of liberty. The lead aircraft, the wingman, and the photo helicopter. I was flying the wingman, as the 3 helicopters approached the statue, the lead helicopter descended. It dropped under the 500 ft min altitude allowed at the statue of liberty. As the pilot of the wingman, I could not leave the formation until the lead aircraft broke off from the formation. The lead pilot, who has flown in the new york area for 5 yrs, knew the regulations concerning the statue. After the flight he stated that we was at 500 ft over the water. As the wingman I saw the altimeter at 200 ft as we passed over the west side of the statue.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FORMATION FLT PHOTO MISSION DSNDS BELOW DESIGNATED ALT AT STATUE OF LIBERTY.

Narrative: THIS FLT WAS A PREARRANGED PHOTO FLT OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. 3 ACFT WERE FLYING AT TIGHT FORMATION AROUND THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. THE LEAD ACFT, THE WINGMAN, AND THE PHOTO HELI. I WAS FLYING THE WINGMAN, AS THE 3 HELIS APCHED THE STATUE, THE LEAD HELI DSNDED. IT DROPPED UNDER THE 500 FT MIN ALT ALLOWED AT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. AS THE PLT OF THE WINGMAN, I COULD NOT LEAVE THE FORMATION UNTIL THE LEAD ACFT BROKE OFF FROM THE FORMATION. THE LEAD PLT, WHO HAS FLOWN IN THE NEW YORK AREA FOR 5 YRS, KNEW THE REGS CONCERNING THE STATUE. AFTER THE FLT HE STATED THAT WE WAS AT 500 FT OVER THE WATER. AS THE WINGMAN I SAW THE ALTIMETER AT 200 FT AS WE PASSED OVER THE W SIDE OF THE STATUE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.