Part 107 UAS pilot reported the UAS crew conducted a flight with FAA authorization and failed to obtain additional LAANC approval to fly within controlled airspace.
Synopsis
Part 107 UAS pilot reported the UAS crew conducted a flight with FAA authorization and failed to obtain additional LAANC approval to fly within controlled airspace.
Narrative
Between XB:00 and XC:00 local time; Pilot In-Command (PIC) Name and Visual Observer (VO) Name 1 operated a DJI Matrice 210 V2.0 RTK quadcopter UAS for the purpose of mapping and documenting a construction site immediately southwest of ZZZ. We have been operated in this area and performing the same flights on a weekly basis since Date under a series of FAA authorizations; currently XXXX-ZXXX-XYZ-XXXXX. The area may be defined as that portion of ZZZ Class B Airspace within 0.25 nautical miles of latitude/longitude [fix]; at or below 200 ft AGL; or: VOR XXX at 3.6 - 0.25 nautical mile radius. The majority of this area covers the 0-foot portion of the ZZZ UASFM (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Facility Maps); but the eastern area overlaps with a 300-foot area of the UASFM.The terms of the authorization for the 0-foot area require us to notify ZZZ ATCT 30 minutes prior to launch. The PIC carried out this responsibility successfully with a call at XA:30 local. Actual launch time was around XB:05.The mapping flights are executed using DJI Ground Station Pro; an app which automates the flight grid and image capture. There are two mapping areas; north and south of road X; and these were carried out at ~197-199 feet AGL. Following the mapping flights; we fly a waypoint mission to collect oblique images of the site from cardinal directions. Two waypoints of this flight go up to 297 ft AGL in the area of the site which is covered by the 300 ft area of the UASFM. As part of our pre-flight operation; the PIC is responsible for obtaining a LAANC authorization prior to flight above 200 ft AGL into this area of the UASFM. However; when the pre-flight checklist was written; the PIC and the VO were using a wide-area authorization for ZZZ's UASFM which authorized flights to the altitudes published on the UASFM without prior notification. The PIC has been mentally substituting the LAANC request for this item.On Date 1; the PIC was distracted during pre-mission setup by a low-battery warning on the primary iPad in use; forcing him to switch to the secondary; and this was sufficient to cause him to forget to request the additional LAANC authorization for the 300-foot portion of the flight in the Aloft app. As a result; the PIC operated the UAS on the course of the waypoint mission about 100 ft above the maximum altitude authorized by active 14 CFR 107.41 authorizations. The PIC only realized this after landing; storing the UAS for travel; and calling to inform ZZZ ATCT that the operation was complete.At no time did the UAS operation interfere with manned-aircraft operations. I just forgot to request the LAANC authorization that I usually request prior to launch. As a corrective action; the PIC will update the pre-flight checklist already in place to include requesting the LAANC authorization.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.