Helicopter photo mission, over water, helicopter maneuvering to 100- 500 MSL.

Attributes
ACN	194826
Time
Date	199111
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mth
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 100 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sea
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	194826
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Helicopter was flown on 2 photo flts of the same bridge. Aircraft altitude varied from 100-500 ft MSL parallel the bridge over the water. Far 91.119 states a helicopter may be operated at less than the mins if conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. Life jackets were worn by pilot and passenger. If an engine failure had occurred the helicopter would have to probably land in the water. Over water operations have an element of risk, but the FARS don't spell out what an 'undue hazard' is.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: HELI PHOTO MISSION, OVER WATER, HELI MANEUVERING TO 100- 500 MSL.

Narrative: HELI WAS FLOWN ON 2 PHOTO FLTS OF THE SAME BRIDGE. ACFT ALT VARIED FROM 100-500 FT MSL PARALLEL THE BRIDGE OVER THE WATER. FAR 91.119 STATES A HELI MAY BE OPERATED AT LESS THAN THE MINS IF CONDUCTED WITHOUT HAZARD TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON THE SURFACE. LIFE JACKETS WERE WORN BY PLT AND PAX. IF AN ENG FAILURE HAD OCCURRED THE HELI WOULD HAVE TO PROBABLY LAND IN THE WATER. OVER WATER OPS HAVE AN ELEMENT OF RISK, BUT THE FARS DON'T SPELL OUT WHAT AN 'UNDUE HAZARD' IS.

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.