Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Engineer
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 4; Flight Crew Total 22080; Flight Crew Type 4
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Exited Penetrated Airspace
Airspace Structure; Chart Or Publication
I began to fly home. The second leg [I departed] from BVU. I went around the south side of the Grand Canyon attempting to stay out of the Grand Canyon (GCN) Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA). Before leaving home I attempted to find any information I could on this area. I downloaded FAR Part 91 and SFAR 50-2 and studied them and took them with me on my computer. The day before and again the day of the flight I studied SFAR 50-2. The best I could determine was the altitude restrictions and 'Flight Free Zones' in SFAR 50-2 'Section 9. Termination date. Section 1. Applicability; Section 4; Flight-freeze zones; and Section 5. Minimum flight altitudes; expire on April 19; 2001.'There are no altitudes listed on the Las Vegas Sectional. There is no explanation of the GCN SFRA on the Special Use Airspace are of the Sectional margin. I attempted to purchase the Grand Canyon VFR Aeronautical Chart from the FBO at [first leg departure airport]. I landed at BVU specifically to purchase the Grand Canyon Chart from the FBO there. Neither FBO had the chart available. I attempted to find the chart online. The Sectional says to see [FAA website] to find a source for the charts or digital charts. Both these web addresses returned 'error page not found' errors. The floor of the Class E airspace is 9;000 feet on the sectional so 9;500 feet or higher should stay out of the GCN SFRA.While flying South of V210 between GCN and TBC; ABQ Center asked if I was familiar with the GCN SFRA and I replied no as the information is either non-existent or not available. The Center also advised that radar contact was lost and therefore could not help me stay out of the area. I believe I was South of any Special Airspace. I continued on to [destination airport].SFRA 50-2 (As listed on the FAA website) contradicts itself as it says to comply with altitudes in an expired section.
The pilot attempted to avoid the Grand Canyon Special Flight Rules Area but may have entered the southern portion inadvertently.