Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 11000; Flight Crew Type 3800
Communication Breakdown; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors
I had just completed a photography site in Patuxent River's restricted area R4007 that was pre-coordinated earlier in the day with no incident. This was my third visit to this location over several weeks and was turned away on two previous occasions. Upon completion of the work; I requested a west bound departure from their area with a climb to 3;000 feet. A while later Patuxent Approach terminated my flight following and I proceeded to circumnavigate what I thought was the DCA SFRA. I had my GPS zoomed in to a very large scale during the photography [mission] and saw what I thought was the DCA speed restriction ring depicted on it. My particular GPS depicts three rings; the speed restriction zone; the SFRA zone and FRZ ring. Because I was zoomed in so much I mistakenly assumed I was entering the speed restriction ring when in fact I was entering the SFRA ring. About the time I realized this I heard a call on 121.5 which was directed at me at which time immediately turned 90 degrees left to exit the SFRA. I believe I penetrated the SFRA about 1-2 miles.I rarely have a need to fly within the southeast region of the SFRA due to all of the restricted areas and although I had a DCA terminal area chart in the plane; I relied on the depiction on the GPS instead of verifying my position early enough on the TAC. I make no excuse for my inadvertent entry into the SFRA and in the future will verify my position on the TAC prior to further navigation with the GPS. I also completed the required course 'Navigating the New DC ADIZ' several years ago which further ads to my embarrassment over the inadvertent pilot deviation.
The pilot of a C-182 departing westbound following a photographic mission within R4007 over Patuxent River NAS inadvertently entered the DCA SFRA believing the GPS displayed arc represented only the DCA speed restricted area.  He exited immediately upon ATC challenge.