Is there a minimum legal altitude for helicopters to fly over populated residential areas in Arkansas?

Question

Is there a minimum legal altitude for helicopters to fly over populated residential areas in Arkansas?

Answer 1

Not sure about Arkansas or even the US, but generally I've found that there are two criteria that apply to built up areas. One is to be of sufficient height to land clear of the area in the event of a power failure (depends on single or twin) and a minimum height of 500'.

Experience is that many small helicopters are flown by as*holes with no respect for others.

Answer 2

Flight  rules "laws" are the same for all stares, It is federal law that applys.

§ 91.119   Minimum safe altitudes: General.

Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:

(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

(d) Helicopters. Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator.

Here is the "gotcha"

§ 91.13   Careless or reckless operation.

(a) Aircraft operations for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

(b) Aircraft operations other than for the purpose of air navigation. No person may operate an aircraft, other than for the purpose of air navigation, on any part of the surface of an airport used by aircraft for air commerce (including areas used by those aircraft for receiving or discharging persons or cargo), in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

ANOTHER INTERESTING TIDBIT.. perhaps they are flying under the other traffic (if you are close to an airport.)

§ 91.126   Operating on or in the vicinity of an airport in Class G airspace.

<snip>

(2) Each pilot of a helicopter or a powered parachute must avoid the flow of fixed-wing aircraft.

edit: where is my thumbs down? everyone else got one!

Answer 3

The person who referred you to the FAR's is correct, there is no prescribed minimum altitude, but the "gray area" which is at the disgression of the pilot (the part that says "without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface") is open to interpretation.  Helicopters are not supposed to be an annoyance and pilots are encouraged to fly "friendly", so in a populated area in the US, the standard accepted minimum is 500 feet unless the helicopter is taking off or landing, and preferrably 1,000 feet for noise abatement. Law enforcement, the military and firefighters have a waiver that allows them to fly as low as necessary in the line of duty, but in general (just getting from point A to point B)  they're not supposed to hug the deck. A fixed wing aircraft must maintain 1,500 feet above a "densely populated area" unless taking off or landing, so the 1,000 foot altitude for helicopters still provides adequate separation from fixed wing aircraft. If  you are constantly plagued by helicopter noise from low-flying "egg beaters", contact the local FAA office or airport manager and make some inquiries.

Answer 4

Helicopters are exempt from the general FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations) that prescribe "minimum safe altitudes" for aircraft.  FAR 91.119(d) provides:  "Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface" subject to compliance with any specific routes/altitudes prescribed in your area by the FAA Administrator.  You might want to pull out your white pages, and look up the FAA number if you want to inquire further.

Answer 5

I am not sure about Arkansas but in Arizona they don't seem to.

I had a Sky Crane fly over the house at maybe 20 feet and it stayed at that altitude for at least a 1/2 mile.

Scared the beCrom out of me, but it was very cool.

http://www.wickenburg-az.com/?p=375