PLT OF AN ENSTROM HELI; EH28; DSNDED BELOW THE MSA DURING A PHOTO FLT OF A BUILDING FIRE TO AVOID FLYING INTO HVY SMOKE CAUSED BY THE FIRE.

Narrative

I HAD A VIDEO CAMERA MAN WITH ME TO GO SHOOT A BUILDING FIRE. I FOUND THE FIRE AND NEEDED TO GET THE FOOTAGE FAST; AND GET BACK TO HOME BASE TO PICK UP ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPHER THAT WAS WAITING TO SHOOT THE SAME FIRE (TIME PRESSURE). SO APCHING FROM THE S I WANTED TO CIRCLE THE BUILDING; 360 DEGS; WINDS WERE FROM E 90 DEGS; BIG FIRE LOTS OF SMOKE. I CONTINUED TOWARD BUILDING; AND GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE SMOKE SO HAD TO LOSE LOTS OF ALT FAST OR GO INTO THE SMOKE AND INSTANT 'IFR' BLACKOUT; NOT TO MENTION THE BAD TOXIC GASES; SO I DROPPED FROM ABOUT 500 FT AGL TO BELOW THE SMOKE AND (POSSIBLE 100 FT AGL). CIRCLED FROM THE SW OF BUILDING; UNDER SMOKE ON W SIDE; TO THE N AND NE GAINING SPD AND ALT. I SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON THE UPWIND SIDE AND CIRCLED TO THE E AND SE OF THE FIRE. NOT PLACING MYSELF IN THE SMOKE TRAIL; FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ENOUGH FRESH AIRSPACE BELOW THE SMOKE CLOUD THAT WE DID NOT FLY INTO THE SMOKE BUT HAD CLR AIR. END OF THE DAY FATIGUE; LONG DAY; INEXPERIENCE FLYING AROUND FIRES AND SMOKE ALL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. ALSO ONCE I STARTED TO GO DOWN TO GET UNDER SMOKE; I DIDN'T WANT TO TURN OUT OF MY INTENDED PATH BECAUSE I SAW THAT I COULD MAKE IT UNDER. I WAS NOT SURE OF PWR LINES OR TWRS TO MY L; BUT I KNEW I COULDN'T GO UP OR R (E).