Helicopter
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 44; Flight Crew Total 248; Flight Crew Type 72
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Ground Incursion Runway
Procedure; Human Factors
I met a guy who wanted me to come fly with him in his personal Helicopter. The plan was for me to be there for area familiarization and as a safety pilot. I made phone calls to ZZZ tower and ZZZ1 AFB Tower to ask if that would be alright; both towers confirmed we could go out and orbit the area. I also called Company X to see if we may be able to land at the speedway since they had exclusive control of the helicopter pads for the night. Company X let me know that they did not approve. I met up with him (owner of the aircraft) that night. After talking with him; he told me he had spoken with someone from Company X and the CEO of Company X (event promoter) and had received permission to land. I took his word and we departed the ramp at ZZZ. We went out to the speedway and orbited for approximately 10 minutes. We then made a call to request to land with ZZZ1 Tower. We were told landing was at our own risk and proceeded in. After we landed the owner and two other passengers stayed at the speedway. I ferried the helicopter back to ZZZ. I then shut down the helicopter and checked my phone. I had received a text message asking me to bring his three friends to the ZZZ2 airport. His friends assured me that they were also supposed to go out to the Speedway. Since I was not paid for the flight I agreed to take them. Upon arrival at the speedway I was told to shut down by Company X Employees and that they had the police on the way since I had made an unauthorized landing. After talking with them and Metro police we came to the conclusion that the helicopter owner had not received clearance to land there. I had no intention of making an unauthorized landing and truly believed I was okay to land there. [Company named removed] employees had made it clear to me that we did not have permission to land and were concerned for the safety of their helicopters/Pilots going in and out of the landing site. They let me know that all of their pilots had received a safety training on landing at the site and that they were coordinating parking; landing and takeoff on a discrete frequency. Since I was not aware of the frequency I was potentially adding unnecessary risk to flight safety to all who were using the landing site.I believe I should have confirmed clearance to land at the site since I had earlier been told no by Company X. I had no reason to believe the man was not completely honest with me. I was not able to contact him during the several hours I was talking with Company X and law enforcement to get clarification. I was allowed to take the helicopter back to the ramp at ZZZ were I left it.
Pilot reports of being told by the owner of the aircraft that they had permission to land at a specific spot. Pilot had already checked and was told no; but believed the owner. Aircraft lands and is told that it wasn't allowed to land there. Pilot took aircraft back to initial starting point later in the evening.