got to love the news...

[swisster]

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12003852404096/helicopter-attempts-to-land-on-rockport-home/

[deerock]

yeah, I saw that this morning on CNN. So he's building a house and they are tired of the construction noise and all that is included.

 

-->then he comes in and lands an R44 on his rooftop - thus making a TON more noise, stopping traffic, etc. Not the most appropriate.

 

As much as we would like to have civilian helicopters have more landing sites and more 'freedom', this certainly doesn't help.

[Eggbeater]

I don't think he/she actually landed on the house, albeit they did get very close to it. Not very safe stuff with all those powerlines and trees in the area, not to mention other houses. Looking at the pictures, it made me wonder if it was the owner or perhaps a real estate agent; I know they will use helicopters to show houses to clients (usually not from this low though).

[SBuzzkill]

Always makes you wonder what is going through some people's heads. First the guy doing the flying - and second the idiots tying up a 911 line for it. There IS a number for your police department that's not 911!

[Karl]

Always makes you wonder what is going through some people's heads. First the guy doing the flying - and second the idiots tying up a 911 line for it. There IS a number for your police department that's not 911!

With ours I think you call 911 and tell them it's a nonemergency.

Here's the CNN link

CNN

[adam32]

I like this comment from the link:

 

Perhaps they (FAA) should also investigate the pilots of the Presidential 747 when it flew over Manhatten for a picture op escorted by other military fighter jets? No body alterted the several million people that were freaked out by a LARGE airliner just a few thousand feet above the city...circling...flying slowly

[rick1128]

The FAA is starting to get too political for its own good. This is the same FSDO that tried to violate the pilots that took off from Norwood airport when the airport was closed. First of all there is no legal requirement for helicopters to land at a heliport. There could possibly be a Mass or local ordinance with that requirement, however the FAA does not enforce local ordinances. From the video, I didn't see anyone outside the house, so the clearance requirements look to have been met. About the only thing the FAA could really charge him with is 'Careless and reckless'. As for the police, 'disturbing the peace' could be a hard sell in front of the judge. Middle of the day operating a machine that is known to be noisy. Since it was his property, there is no trespassing. Careless endangerment and creating an attractive nuisance are a couple of other possibilities.

 

Most states have their own aviation laws. They usually not enforced as the airspace has been ruled a federal domain and the FAA does the enforcement. Plus the states don't want to get entangled with a double jeopardy defense.

[screename6785]

"The home does not have a helipad, which is a violation"

 

 

hmmmmm...I think I'm kinda screwed if the FAA finds me doing all my off "helipad" landings....lol.

[r22butters]

If you're gonna fly low, stay away from residential neighborhoods, unless one day you want to read:

 

'Except for takeoff and landing, no one may fly a helicopter in the vicinity of a residential neighborhood at an altitude of less than 500 feet AGL.'

 

Didn't Frank do something similar in an R22, a long time ago? Its been a while since I've been to the RHC Course, but I seem to recall a picture? Not on the house, but next to?

 

Anyway, I'm sure the FAA will get this guy on 91.119(a), Minimum Safe Altitudes;

"Anywhere,...if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazards to persons or property on the surface."

 

And, of course, as already mentioned, 91.13, Careless or reckless operation.

Edited March 24, 2011 by r22butters

[Trans Lift]

I suppose he could say he was going to do a confined area landing on the property and decided to abort at the end before he got below the house.

[iChris]

If you're gonna fly low, stay away from residential neighborhoods, unless one day you want to read:

 

'Except for takeoff and landing, no one may fly a helicopter in the vicinity of a residential neighborhood at an altitude of less than 500 feet AGL.'

 

?

 

 

Edited March 24, 2011 by iChris

[Goldy]

Didn't Frank do something similar in an R22, a long time ago? Its been a while since I've been to the RHC Course, but I seem to recall a picture? Not on the house, but next to?

 

I beleive the story is he landed his first R22 in his yard in Palos Verdes, but after getting an earful from the neighbors, he decided that was the last time he would try it.

 

Neighbors need to get a life.

 

The guy should move in next to me, then we could share his nice flat roof....looks plenty good to me.

[nikon858]

I dunno, the picture looks misleading to me...he/she could have been a 100ft on the other side of the house flying over the lake....it's only one angle so you can't tell....The neighbors could have mistook the sound for being alot closer.

 

Or hey, my chip light was flickering!

[SBuzzkill]

With ours I think you call 911 and tell them it's a nonemergency.

Here's the CNN link

CNN

 

Could be! I was just going off what I learned in Washington State:

 

http://www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/911.htm

[Karl]

Could be! I was just going off what I learned in Washington State:

 

http://www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/911.htm

You've got paper to back your statement up. Mine's hearsay from a friend. Probably depends on the local 911 system.

[Goldy]

You've got paper to back your statement up. Mine's hearsay from a friend. Probably depends on the local 911 system.

 

In CA, it's actually against the law to call 911 unless it is a true emergency. CA Penal Code:

 

653y. (a) Any person who knowingly allows the use or who uses the

911 telephone system for any reason other than because of an

emergency is guilty of an infraction, punishable as follows:

(1) For a first violation, a written warning shall be issued to

the violator by the public safety entity originally receiving the

call describing the punishment for subsequent violations. The written

warning shall inform the recipient to notify the issuing agency that

the warning was issued inappropriately if the recipient did not

make, or knowingly allow the use of the 911 telephone system for, the

nonemergency 911 call. The law enforcement agency may provide

educational materials regarding the appropriate use of the 911

telephone system.

 

 

Now back to that great flat roof heli-stop.

[Karl]

Well I looked it up and it says this:

 

Contact HPD

 

Emergency situations requiring immediate attention should be reported by telephone.

 

Call 9-1-1

 

* Telephone Line: (808) 529-3111

[Goldy]

Well I looked it up and it says this:

 

Contact HPD

 

Emergency situations requiring immediate attention should be reported by telephone.

 

Call 9-1-1

 

* Telephone Line: (808) 529-3111

 

So where is the "emergency situation requiring immediate attention" when you have basically a noise complaint?