BELL 206 JET RANGER PLT CONDUCTED A MOVIE MAKING FLT OF A NATL PARK MONUMENT WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PARK SVC; OR THE FAA'S WAIVER TO FLY OVER A CONGESTED AREA LOWER THAN REQUIRED MINIMUMS.

Narrative

DURING THE EARLY MORNING; I WAS FLYING A BELL 206 JET RANGER HELI ON A MOVIE FLT IN THE AREA OF MOUNT RUSHMORE NATL MEMORIAL. THE MISSION WAS TO OBTAIN FOOTAGE OF MOUNT RUSHMORE FOR THE MOVIE. HELI FLTS IN THE MOUNT RUSHMORE AREA MUST TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE A 2000 FT PERIMETER UNLESS SPECIAL PERMISSION IS OBTAINED FROM THE NATL PARK SVC AND THE LCL FSDO. ONLY THEN CAN FLTS BE CONDUCTED CLOSER TO THE MONUMENT. THE INTENT IS TO PRECLUDE FLT OVER THE CONGESTED AREA BENEATH THE MONUMENT. WHEN PERMISSION IS GRANTED; IT IS USUALLY WITH THE CONDITION THAT THE FLT IS OUT OF THE AREA BEFORE XA30. EACH YR; MOVIE MAKERS AND OTHERS ARE ALLOWED TO FLY IN CLOSE TO MONUMENT TO GET THE FOOTAGE THEY DESIRE. I PERSONALLY HAVE FLOWN SEVERAL OF THESE FLTS WITH NO PROBS. IN EACH CASE; MY EMPLOYER; AS THE ORGANIZER; HAS REQUESTED AND RECEIVED THE NECESSARY PERMISSION. THE EVENING BEFORE THIS FLT; I MET WITH MY EMPLOYER TO ENSURE THAT ALL PREPARATION FOR THE FLT HAD BEEN COMPLETED. DURING THE MEETING; I ASKED MR X WHETHER PERMISSION HAD BEEN GRANTED TO FLY WITHIN THE PARKING LOT ROAD (THE 2000 FT PERIMETER). HE TOLD ME HE HAD DONE THE NECESSARY COORD AND THAT YES; PERMISSION HAD BEEN GRANTED TO FLY WITHIN THE PERIMETER. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO TIME CONSTRAINT (IE; WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO FINISH BEFORE XA30). WE TALKED ABOUT THE 'MOVIE MANUAL;' AND HE TOLD ME THE CHKLIST HAD BEEN COMPLETED. MY WIFE WAS PRESENT DURING THIS CONVERSATION; AND SHE ALSO UNDERSTOOD MR X TO SAY THAT HE HAD OBTAINED THE NATL PARK SVC'S 'BLESSING' AND FAA PERMISSION FOR THE FLT. THE ON-SITE PORTION OF THE FLT WAS COMPLETED UNEVENTFULLY; AS PLANNED; BTWN THE HRS OF AB15 AND AC20. NUMEROUS PASSES WERE MADE LEVEL WITH AND ALONG THE FRONT OF THE FACES ON THE MOUNTAIN CARVING. WE WERE AN ESTIMATED 500 FT ABOVE THE VIEWING AREA. THIS WAS A TYPICAL 'MOVIE' MISSION. I LEARNED LATER THAT DAY THAT THE NATL PARK SVC HAD COMPLAINED TO THE FSDO ABOUT THE FLT AND THAT; IN FACT; PERMISSION TO FLY WITHIN THE PERIMETER HAD NOT BEEN GRANTED FOR THIS FLT. ALTHOUGH THE FSDO HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE FLT FROM MR X; THEY HAD UNDERSTOOD THAT THE FLT WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE 2000 FT PERIMETER. THEREFORE; I MAY HAVE UNINTENTIONALLY VIOLATED FAR BY FLYING OVER A CONGESTED AREA WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE FAA. HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED: I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MR X LATE IN THE DAY INFORMING ME THAT I HAD FLOWN IN VIOLATION AND THAT PERMISSION HAD NOT BEEN GRANTED. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: IN THE FUTURE; I WOULD SPEAK WITH THE CTLING AGENCIES (NATL PARK SVC AND FSDO) MYSELF TO ENSURE THAT ANY SPECIAL PERMISSION; WAIVERS AND SO ON ARE OBTAINED AND NOT RELY ON MY EMPLOYER TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.