HELI PIC TAKES OFF IN DIRECTION OF POPULATED AREA AND BLOWS OVER A CONCESSION STAND TENT IN THE PROCESS. TKOF DIRECTION WAS PREDICATED ON OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS RATHER THAN GND SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE WITH FARS.

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THE HELI PAD IN QUESTION IS LOCATED AT THE HOLMSTEAD FLORIDA RACE TRACK. THE MISSION WAS TO TRANSPORT PAX TO AND FROM A SPECIAL EVENT. ON THE FLT IN QUESTION THERE WAS A CREW OF 2 AND 6 PAX. THE ACFT WAS NEAR MAX GROSS WT. THERE WAS A WIND OF CLOSE TO 20 KTS WITH GUSTS FROM THE SE. THE PAD SETS BEHIND THE GRANDSTANDS TO THE NW. THIS CAUSED A TURB FROM THE WIND GOING AROUND; OVER; AND THROUGH THE STANDS. THE ONLY DEP PATH WAS TO THE NNE TO AVOID PEOPLE AND CONCESSIONS. ON THIS PARTICULAR FLT; I CHOSE TO USE THE WIND FOR LIFT SO I DEPARTED MORE EASTERLY; BRINGING THE GEAR UP EARLY TO GET THROUGH ETL QUICKER. BY DOING THIS; I FLEW OVER THE EDGE OF THE FOOD TENT AREAS AND MY ROTOR DOWNWASH BLEW OVER 1 TENT; I THINK. HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN HELIPORT SAFETY INSPECTIONS FOR A MEDICAL FOUNDATION FOR MANY YRS; I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THIS PAD. THERE ARE TALL LIGHT POSTS IN CLOSE PROX; IT IS TOO CLOSE TO THE POPULATED AREA (FOOD STANDS); AND ANY WIND AT ALL LEAVES YOU WITH NO OPTION BUT A TAILWIND DEP TO AVOID THE PEOPLE. MY SIT WAS UNIQUE. WE WERE IN A LARGE; HVY HELI TRYING TO OPERATE AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE. MOST OF THE OTHER ACFT WERE SMALL; 1 PLT AND 1 PAX. IF NOTHING ELSE WERE DONE; MAYBE LARGE ACFT SHOULD BE LANDED OFF-SITE IN THE FUTURE; AN ENG FAILURE OF ANY ACFT WOULD HAVE DEADLY RESULTS ON THE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND CLOSE TO THE PAD.