LOW FLT ABOVE TERRAIN RESULTING IN GND PERSONNEL INJURY FROM ROTOR DOWNWASH.

Narrative

DURING PHOTO FLT AT KANE COUNTY FLEA MARKET; ACFT WAS HOVERING AT APPROX 200 FT AGL ABOVE A TREE LINE AND FIELD USED FOR PARKING. THE PHOTOGRAPHER REQUESTED THAT I BEGIN TO CIRCLE THE FAIRGROUNDS AS I HAD DONE BEFORE HOVERING. AS I TRANSITIONED TO FORWARD FLT; I BEGAN A CYCLIC TURN TO THE R. THIS FLT PATH TOOK ME OVER A CORNER OF THE FLEA MARKET WERE VENDORS HAD SET UP THEIR DISPLAYS. WHEN I NOTICED FLYING OVER THE VENDOR AREA; I BANKED R AWAY FROM THE VENDORS' DISPLAYS. I OVERFLEW THE VENDORS AT APPROX 200 FT AGL FOR APPROX 3 TO 5 SECONDS. THE ROTOR WASH WAS BLAMED FOR DAMAGE TO VENDOR MERCHANDISE AND ONE INJURY. A VENDOR HAD BEEN STRUCK ON THE HEAD WHEN HER TENT POLE BECAME DISLODGED. SHE WAS TAKEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL TO BE SEEN BY A DOCTOR. I BELIEVE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE VENDOR AREA ITSELF. THE VENDORS' CARS; TRUCKS; TRAILERS; AND VANS WERE USED AS PART OF THEIR DISPLAY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL WE WERE DIRECTLY OVERHEAD THAT WE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A DISPLAY AREA; AND NOT A PARKING AREA.