A helicopter pilot has his aircraft struck by a golf ball after departure, resulting in the pilot landing the aircraft on the driving range of the golf course.

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Attributes
ACN	603516
Time
Date	200312
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bell 47
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 35 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	603516
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

I, the pilot of the helicopter, was cleared by ATC for the south departure from the southwest end of the airport, which is adjacent the golf-course driving range. On takeoff, after clearing the trees, the helicopter was struck by golf balls. I did not want to take any chances in case the helicopter sustained damage, so I initiated a precautionary landing and notified ATC. I landed safely on the golf-course driving range with no personnel or property damage.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HELI PLT HAS HIS ACFT STRUCK BY A GOLF BALL AFTER DEP, RESULTING IN THE PLT LNDG THE ACFT ON THE DRIVING RANGE OF THE GOLF COURSE.

Narrative: I, THE PLT OF THE HELI, WAS CLRED BY ATC FOR THE S DEP FROM THE SW END OF THE ARPT, WHICH IS ADJACENT THE GOLF-COURSE DRIVING RANGE. ON TKOF, AFTER CLRING THE TREES, THE HELI WAS STRUCK BY GOLF BALLS. I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES IN CASE THE HELI SUSTAINED DAMAGE, SO I INITIATED A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AND NOTIFIED ATC. I LANDED SAFELY ON THE GOLF-COURSE DRIVING RANGE WITH NO PERSONNEL OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.