IN ORDER TO GET A CLOSER VIDEO SHOT OF A 'MARRY ME' SIGN IN FRONT OF ONE OF HIS PAX HOME; THE PLT DSNDED TO 500 FT. A POLICE HELI SPOTTED THE LOW FLYING ACFT AND FOLLOWED IT TO THE ARPT.

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I WAS ON A SIGHTSEEING FLT UNDER PART 91 (TKOF AND LNDG AT SAME ARPT; WITHIN 25 NM). THE PAX REQUESTED TO FLY OVER HIS HOUSE TO SHOW HIS GIRLFRIEND THE SIGN WITH WHICH HE INTENDED TO PROPOSE TO HER. WHILE LOOKING AT THE SIGN; INADVERTENTLY I DROPPED BELOW 1000 FT TO ABOUT 500 FT. ONCE I REALIZED MY MISTAKE I REGAINED MY ALT ASAP; BUT NOT BEFORE A POLICE HELI COULD SPOT ME AND FOLLOW TO THE ARPT. THE PROB AROSE BY THE FACT I WAS DISTR LOOKING FOR THE SIGN ON THE GND. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PRESENCE AND MAYBE EXCITEMENT OF PAX. GLANCED TO THE ALTIMETER; SAW 500 FT AND APPLIED PWR AND CLBED BACK TO ORIGINAL ALT; 1000 FT AGL. ONCE ON THE GND; A POLICE OFFICER APCHED AND ASKED TO REVIEW MY LICENSE AND DRIVERS LICENSE. HE TOLD ME I WAS FLYING TOO LOW; WHICH I AGREED WITH; AND THAT I WAS INSIDE THE SANTA ANA ARPT CLASS C; WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE. I WAS 8 1/2 MI FROM SLI VOR. A FRIEND OF MINE; FLT INSTRUCTOR AS WELL; WAS ONBOARD TOO; BUT HE WAS IN CHARGE OF OPERATING A VIDEO CAMERA. THEREFORE; HE WAS NOT ABLE TO OPERATE THE CTLS OR CORRECT MY FLYING. I BELIEVE THIS WAS A SERIOUS MISTAKE ON MY SIDE. I LET THE PAX TAKE OVER MY AUTH AS PIC AND PUT THE PAX; MYSELF; AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE GND IN JEOPARDY.