ROBINSON R22 PLT MAKES A PRECAUTIONARY OFF ARPT LNDG.

Narrative

DURING PHOTO FLT; I THOUGHT I SAW A WARNING INDICATION LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THERE WAS NO ABNORMAL NOISES (ENG VERSUS XMISSION). I DID A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG IN AN OPEN UNOCCUPIED BALL FIELD. AFTER CONTACTING THE AUTH SVC CTR AND GOING THROUGH THE POSSIBLE CAUSES I NOW BELIEVE THAT IT WAS EITHER SUNLIGHT SHINING ON THE LAMP LENS OR PERHAPS THE CLUTCH LIGHT ILLUMINATING FOR BELT TENSIONING. I OBTAINED PERMISSION FROM THE FACILITY TO TAKE OFF THE FOLLOWING DAY. AS PIC; AND HAVING CHKED ALL THE INDICATOR LIGHTS; I DEPARTED WITHOUT MECHANICAL INCIDENT -- NO INDICATORS ILLUMINATED EXCEPT FOR THE CLUTCH LIGHT AS EXPECTED FOR BELT TIGHTENING. THE PRESS CAUGHT ON TO THE STORY AND MIS-STATED FACTS IN THE CASE. THE LCL POLICE FILED A CITATION FOR LNDG 'NOT IN EMER STATUS' AND 'HT OF ACFT AND HELI'S' CITATION. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE LCL PROPERTY; NO INJURIES AND APPARENTLY NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT. IT APPEARS TO BE PLT ERROR OR SUNLIGHT OR CLUTCH LIGHT ILLUMINATION NOT RECOGNIZED AS NORMAL. PRECAUTIONARY LNDG WAS REASONABLE IN PLT'S VIEW.