Flight crew of helicopter performing photo mission is notified after returning to base that they ble...

Attributes
ACN	371091
Time
Date	199706
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 2ta7
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 200 msl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mdt
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	371091
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 12400 flight time type : 7300
ASRS Report	371092
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on a photo mission for a special event in texas, my rotor wash knocked over a tent. I was flying about 50 ft from the shoreline (over the water) between 200-300 ft at 50 KTS while 2 women were taking pictures. I never saw the tent that was knocked down. I never flew directly over the beach or over any people. After the mission, I drove to the beach and had lunch. No one came up to me to complain. On jun/xa/97, I received a call that our rotor wash had knocked over a tent. They were told to let me know of any dollar damage and we would pay for it. They said that everything was ok and they wanted copies of the pictures. I do not believe that I violated any regulation. I think the strong southerly wind off the beach and my rotor wash may have contributed to this incident. I never saw anything blowing from my rotor wash. Supplemental information from acn 371092: during the flight I witnessed no indication of any kind that our rotor wash was reaching the shoreline. I saw nothing being blown about. I am aware of the effects of rotor wash so I was surprised to hear about the 2 umbrellas and tent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF HELI PERFORMING PHOTO MISSION IS NOTIFIED AFTER RETURNING TO BASE THAT THEY BLEW DOWN A TENT AND SOME UMBRELLAS ON THE BEACH.

Narrative: WHILE ON A PHOTO MISSION FOR A SPECIAL EVENT IN TEXAS, MY ROTOR WASH KNOCKED OVER A TENT. I WAS FLYING ABOUT 50 FT FROM THE SHORELINE (OVER THE WATER) BTWN 200-300 FT AT 50 KTS WHILE 2 WOMEN WERE TAKING PICTURES. I NEVER SAW THE TENT THAT WAS KNOCKED DOWN. I NEVER FLEW DIRECTLY OVER THE BEACH OR OVER ANY PEOPLE. AFTER THE MISSION, I DROVE TO THE BEACH AND HAD LUNCH. NO ONE CAME UP TO ME TO COMPLAIN. ON JUN/XA/97, I RECEIVED A CALL THAT OUR ROTOR WASH HAD KNOCKED OVER A TENT. THEY WERE TOLD TO LET ME KNOW OF ANY DOLLAR DAMAGE AND WE WOULD PAY FOR IT. THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK AND THEY WANTED COPIES OF THE PICTURES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I VIOLATED ANY REG. I THINK THE STRONG SOUTHERLY WIND OFF THE BEACH AND MY ROTOR WASH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS INCIDENT. I NEVER SAW ANYTHING BLOWING FROM MY ROTOR WASH. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 371092: DURING THE FLT I WITNESSED NO INDICATION OF ANY KIND THAT OUR ROTOR WASH WAS REACHING THE SHORELINE. I SAW NOTHING BEING BLOWN ABOUT. I AM AWARE OF THE EFFECTS OF ROTOR WASH SO I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR ABOUT THE 2 UMBRELLAS AND TENT.

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.

Flight crew of helicopter performing photo mission is notified after returning to base that they blew down a tent and some umbrellas on the beach.