Narrative:

On dec/tue/03, I was ferrying a robinson R44 helicopter from mobile, al, to allentown, PA. While en route from smith mountain lake, va, to frederick, md, I transitioned at 1500 ft MSL, under the outer 4500 ft and 2500 ft rings of the washington dulles international class B airspace. I did not know at the time that the entire lateral limits of that airspace, to the surface, had become an ADIZ. In preflight briefings, I had been informed of restr areas around washington, dc, and stated that I was aware of them. I assumed that they meant the washington metropolitan area special flight rules area that is clearly marked on the latest, most current, sectional chart. Had I known that the sectional did not show the entire extent of the washington ADIZ, I never would have flown through that area. I did not need to fly under the class B airspace, and only chose to because of a desire to avoid climbing up over the appalachian mountain terrain in the aircraft I was ferrying, as well as to conserve fuel by flying a straight line to my destination. I realize my mistake, and I should have more thoroughly investigated all of the NOTAMS. I have learned a valuable lesson and sincerely hope that I did not cause any excess workload for all of the people working so diligently to protect our country. I only wish that they would graphically show on the sectional chart the full extent of the washington ADIZ so that pilots like me, who do not normally fly in that area, can pick up a chart and easily see what areas may need to be avoided. Please call me if you have any questions. I am a beginning flight instructor who is striving to be the best possible pilot. I am truly embarrassed for having ever let an incident such as this occur. I am willing to work with the FAA in any way to help stop violations such as this, and I do respect the work they do in keeping us all safe.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: R44 HELI PLT ON A FLT FROM SMITH MT LAKE TO FDK WAS UNAWARE THE DC ADIZ BOUNDARIES WERE NOT THE SAME AS THE CLASS B BOUNDARIES.

Narrative: ON DEC/TUE/03, I WAS FERRYING A ROBINSON R44 HELI FROM MOBILE, AL, TO ALLENTOWN, PA. WHILE ENRTE FROM SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, VA, TO FREDERICK, MD, I TRANSITIONED AT 1500 FT MSL, UNDER THE OUTER 4500 FT AND 2500 FT RINGS OF THE WASHINGTON DULLES INTL CLASS B AIRSPACE. I DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME THAT THE ENTIRE LATERAL LIMITS OF THAT AIRSPACE, TO THE SURFACE, HAD BECOME AN ADIZ. IN PREFLT BRIEFINGS, I HAD BEEN INFORMED OF RESTR AREAS AROUND WASHINGTON, DC, AND STATED THAT I WAS AWARE OF THEM. I ASSUMED THAT THEY MEANT THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA SPECIAL FLT RULES AREA THAT IS CLRLY MARKED ON THE LATEST, MOST CURRENT, SECTIONAL CHART. HAD I KNOWN THAT THE SECTIONAL DID NOT SHOW THE ENTIRE EXTENT OF THE WASHINGTON ADIZ, I NEVER WOULD HAVE FLOWN THROUGH THAT AREA. I DID NOT NEED TO FLY UNDER THE CLASS B AIRSPACE, AND ONLY CHOSE TO BECAUSE OF A DESIRE TO AVOID CLBING UP OVER THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN TERRAIN IN THE ACFT I WAS FERRYING, AS WELL AS TO CONSERVE FUEL BY FLYING A STRAIGHT LINE TO MY DEST. I REALIZE MY MISTAKE, AND I SHOULD HAVE MORE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED ALL OF THE NOTAMS. I HAVE LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON AND SINCERELY HOPE THAT I DID NOT CAUSE ANY EXCESS WORKLOAD FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WORKING SO DILIGENTLY TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY. I ONLY WISH THAT THEY WOULD GRAPHICALLY SHOW ON THE SECTIONAL CHART THE FULL EXTENT OF THE WASHINGTON ADIZ SO THAT PLTS LIKE ME, WHO DO NOT NORMALLY FLY IN THAT AREA, CAN PICK UP A CHART AND EASILY SEE WHAT AREAS MAY NEED TO BE AVOIDED. PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I AM A BEGINNING FLT INSTRUCTOR WHO IS STRIVING TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE PLT. I AM TRULY EMBARRASSED FOR HAVING EVER LET AN INCIDENT SUCH AS THIS OCCUR. I AM WILLING TO WORK WITH THE FAA IN ANY WAY TO HELP STOP VIOLATIONS SUCH AS THIS, AND I DO RESPECT THE WORK THEY DO IN KEEPING US ALL SAFE.

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.