Recreational / Hobbyist UAS pilot reported flying within a TFR without authorization. Reporter stated they checked for TFRs using only the drone manufacturer's flight planning tools and did not see any TFRs listed.
Synopsis
Recreational / Hobbyist UAS pilot reported flying within a TFR without authorization. Reporter stated they checked for TFRs using only the drone manufacturer's flight planning tools and did not see any TFRs listed.
Narrative
Short flight to photograph coworker/friends new house. Was not aware of VIP TFR in place. Was not informed by flight planning application or DJI software. Drones obstacle avoidance cause the drone to pop up above 50ft to avoid trees during return to home.On Day 2 at XB:18pm I inadvertently flew a drone in the airspace of a TFR. I was unaware that the TFR was in place despite using DJI's Flysafe website and the DJI Go 4 flight app during pre-flight planning. Neither app alerted me that the TFR was in effect.I was doing this favor to a friend/coworker who had seen some aerial photo's of my house and asked if I could get some aerials of their home as well. Timeline and issues.Day 0 - Requested authorization to fly in the authorization area near the location I would be taking photos through the DJI Flysafe website. Approval was granted and a certificate issued. At the time I did not know the DJI Flysafe website did not communicate with the LAANC system.Day 2 XA:15am - Drove to local park near the location on my lunch break and performed pre-flight checks. I relied solely on the DJI flysafe app and the DJI Go 4 app to check for no-fly zones and other flight restrictions. The TFR did not show up on the apps. Only the usual no fly areas near the airport. I made sure to stay clear of the zones that the app was showing as No-Fly Zone (highlighted in red on the app).Day 2 XB:18pm - Launched drone and flew a short distance to the home I was photographing. Checked for obstacles. Took 4 pictures. Returned to home point staying in what the app deemed authorization zone (Blue in color). Landed. Total flight time 12 minutes 48 seconds. I did have to increase altitude briefly to clear obstacles (trees; power lines). Maximum altitude was approximately 100 ft. Maximum speed was 28 MPH.Day 2 XB:32pm - As I was leaving the area to return to work I was approached by a local sheriff. I provided my drone registration certificate as well as my TRUST certificate. I also showed him my authorization code from the DJI Flysafe website. He advised me a VIP was in town and informed me of the flight restriction. This was the first time I became aware of the TFR.Realizing what the flight restriction was in place during my flight I performed a self-examination of how I could have missed it. I concluded that it was my reliance on the DJI tools instead of using other tools such as the TSA TFR website and the Aloft app that led to my not being aware of the TFR in place.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.